English Explanatory Dictionary

if you pay peanuts, you get monkeys

English dictionary entry

Meanings

proverb
  1. Offering a low payment or salary will not attract skilled workers or employees.

Pronunciation

/ɪf ˌjuː peɪ ˈpiːnʌts ˌjuː ɡɛt ˈmʌŋkiːz/ /ɪf ˌju peɪ ˈpiˌnʌts ˌjuː ɡɛt ˈmʌŋkiz/ En-us-if you pay peanuts, you get monkeys.oga

Word forms

if you pay peanuts, you get monkeys

Etymology

A reference to peanuts (“especially of a salary: a very small or insufficient amount”) (originally US slang dating to the mid 20th century) and monkey (“a person of minimal intelligence, idiot”), with a humorous allusion to the fact that monkeys are fond of nuts.

Synonyms

good work ain't cheap, cheap work ain't good if you pay bananas, you get monkeys

Related words

buy cheap, buy twice false economy you buy cheap, you get cheap you get what you pay for
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