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All Site ContentTaming of the ShrewAct 4Scene 3
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“make it” and “mar it”
Wordplay
Act 4,
Scene 3
Lines 94-100

An explanation of Petruchio’s play on “make it” and “mar it” in Act 4, Scene 3 of myShakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew.

Tailor

You bid me make it orderly and well,    
According to the fashion and the time.    

Petruchio

Marry, and did; but if you be remembered,    
I did not bid you mar it to the time.
Go, hop me over every kennel home,    
For you shall hop without my custom, sir;    
I'll none of it. Hence, make your best of it.    

Petruchio is playing on the expression “make it or mar it,” which is similar to our “make it or break it.” When the tailor says he made the gown “to the time” (to the current fashion), Petruchio responds that he didn’t ask him to mar (ruin) it to the time (for all time).