to spoil the ship for a ha'porth of tar
[spoil] the ship for a ha’penny-worth of tarto spoil the ship for a ha'porth of tar
01
***to ruin something simply to avoid some minor difficulty, inconvenience, or expense.
Dialect
British
British
Exempel
You know your mom is going to be offended, so please call her before the dinner party — do not spoil the ship for a ha'porth of tar.
