halfpennyworth
/ˈheɪpənɪwɜːθ/(亦作ha'p'orth /ˈheɪpəθ/)
noun
1- Brit. as much as could be bought for a halfpenny〈英〉价值半便士的东西。
1.1
- usu. with negative
ha'p'orth
informal a negligible amount〈非正式〉极小的数量, 微不足道的数量： he's never been a ha'p'orth of bother.
他从来没让人伤过一点脑筋。
短语
don't spoil the ship for a ha'p'orth of tar
- proverb don't risk the failure of a large project by trying to economize on trivial things〈谚〉不要因小失大; 不要捡了芝麻丢了西瓜。
- [ORIGIN: referring to the use of tar to keep flies off sores on sheep （from dialect pronunciation of sheep as ship）.]