porth

do not spoil the ship for a ha'porth of tar

proverb Do not ruin something simply to avoid some minor difficulty, inconvenience, or expense. "Ship" is thought to be a dialectical pronunciation of "sheep," and a "ha'porth" is a "halfpennyworth." Tar was used to protect sheep skin from flies (and thereby illness and death), so not having enough tar would contribute to the death of the sheep. 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.
See also: not, of, ship, spoil, tar
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

spoil the ship for a ha'porth of tar

mainly BRITISH, OLD-FASHIONED
If you spoil the ship for a ha'porth of tar, you spoil a large or important piece of work completely because you refuse to spend a small amount of money on one aspect of it. I think it's a modest investment that is well worth making. You don't want to spoil the ship for a ha'porth of tar. Note: `Ship' in this expression was originally `sheep'. A `ha'porth' is a `halfpenny's worth'; a halfpenny was a British coin of very low value. Shepherds used to put tar on their sheep's wounds and sores to protect them from flies, and it would be foolish to risk the sheep's health in order to save a small amount of money.
See also: of, ship, spoil, tar
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

spoil the ˌship for a ha’porth/ha’penny-worth of ˈtar

(saying) spoil something good because you did not spend any or enough money on a small but essential part of it: Always buy good quality floppy disks. Don’t spoil the ship for a ha’porth of tar. Ship in this idiom was originally sheep and ha’porth or ha’penny-worth referred to a very small amount of money. The basic meaning of the idiom was originally ‘allow a sheep to die because you won’t buy a very small amount of tar’, tar being used to treat cuts on a sheep’s body.
See also: of, ship, spoil, tar
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • do not spoil the ship for a ha'porth of tar
  • hap
  • spoil the ship for a ha'porth of tar
  • spoil the ship for a ha'p'orth of tar
  • spoil the ship for a ha'porth/ha'penny-worth of tar
  • teach a man to fish
  • for want of a nail
  • For want of a nail the shoe was lost; for want of a shoe the horse ...
  • it takes a village
  • village
References in periodicals archive
THERE'S a special landmark coming up for the old Porth Library building.
New chapter opens for library building
Objectors to plans for two more takeaways in Porth town centre say there are already enough of them in the area.
'There are already enough takeaways in Porth' and there could soon be two more; The Porth Chamber of Trade was one of the objectors to the plans for the old auction house in Hannah Street
The yacht went on fire shortly before 12.35am in the Porth Penrhyn docks area.
Yacht blaze at docks; PROBE AS CREWS BATTLE BOAT FIRE
And now the Welsh Government has taken over responsibility for drawing up new plans for the huge Porth Teigr regeneration site in Cardiff Bay.
Welsh Government takes responsibility for former Who site
Glenn was preceded in death by his wives: Maureen Porth Koch and Ellen Pepe Koch and is survived by three stepchildren: Donald L.
KOCH
Mark Theodore Porth, 37, was arraigned Monday in Lane County Circuit Court on charges of driving under the influence of intoxicants and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Felon faces firearm charge
BEDLINOG completed a trophy treble for the season as they defeated Porth Harlequins to lift the Glamorgan County Silver Ball after an entertaining final at Aberavon.
PORTH QUINS ...................15 BEDLINOG .........................32
The beach at Abersoch is a firm favourite with watersports enthusiasts, as is Porth Oer, famed for its 'squeaky'' sand, and Porth Neigwl - otherwise known as Hell''s Mouth, pulling in the surfers every year.
Life's a beach in this sandy region; Discover North Wales 2014 In association with
Yn ffodus daeth Emrys Owen, Caergybi i'r adwy a rhoi'r hanes am newid yr enw o Porth y Sach i Porth Thomas Hughes.
Pleser crwydro Bro Morgannwg dywediad "clywed cyfarthiad; AIL NATUR
Daimler AG (Daimler) (NYSE: DAI) (FWB: DAI), a Germany-based automaker, has named Wilfried Porth (49) as Member of the Board of Management for Human Resources and Labour Relations Director effective the end of the 2009 Annual Meeting.
Daimler names new Member of the Board of Management for HR and Labour Relations
As a prosecutor, Ari Porth has learned the value of advocacy.
Porth works to build relationships
President and Chief Executive Officer Wilfried Porth apologized Tuesday for the firm's delayed reporting of truck fires caused by defective parts.
2ND LD: Mitsubishi Fuso's Porth sorry for delayed accident reports
Checks were made on the taped calls after appliances tackled hill fires near Porth, in the Rhondda Valley, South Wales.
Firemen in 'hoax' row
COUNCILLORS have backed plans for two takeaways in a former auction house in Porth town centre despite objections.
Objections fail to stop takeaways