APAD:if you pay peanuts, you get monkeys

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

(Britain, informal) Offering a low payment or salary will not attract skilled workers or employees.

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