Quote:
Originally Posted by Perikles
ha'penny = half-penny.
When you waterproof a ship, you paint the whole of the underside with tar (alquitran). Obviously, if you do all of it but leave a tiny bit unpainted, the whole job is wasted because water will get in. The ship will sink because you tried to save tar worth a half-penny. The whole of your job is ruined because of one small error.
Similar to: If a job is worth doing, it's worth doing properly.
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OK, thanks and now I understand the meaning. But I don't understand that "ha'porth" yet. So, it is half porth, but porth doesn't exist. Is porth=penny?