if you pay peanuts, you get monkeys

== English == === 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. === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ɪf ˌjuː peɪ ˈpiːnʌts ˌjuː ɡɛt ˈmʌŋkiːz/ (General American) IPA(key): /ɪf ˌju peɪ ˈpiˌnʌts ˌjuː ɡɛt ˈmʌŋkiz/ Hyphenation: if you pay pea‧nuts, you get monk‧eys === Proverb === if you pay peanuts, you get monkeys (British, informal) Offering a low payment or salary will not attract skilled workers or employees. [from mid 20th c.] Synonyms: good work ain't cheap, cheap work ain't good; if you pay bananas, you get monkeys ==== Translations ==== ==== See also ==== buy cheap, buy twice false economy you buy cheap, you get cheap you get what you pay for === References === === Further reading === “if you pay peanuts, you get monkeys”, in Collins English Dictionary, 2011–present.