• Proverb – If you pay peanuts, you get monkeys.
  • Meaning – If you pay a low wage you will get poor workers. If you offer a poor salary you will not attract skilled employees. A boss that pays little money for staff will have bad workers.
  • This is a British English proverb that is now recognised by most – if not all – English speakers.
  • Peanuts is a slang expression for a very small amount of money.
Discuss:
  • Is there a similar proverb in your culture?