if you pay peanuts, you get monkeys

A reference to peanuts (“especially of a salary: a very small or insufficient amount”) (originally US slang dating to the mid 20th century)[1] and monkey (“a person of minimal intelligence, idiot”), with a humorous allusion to the fact that monkeys are fond of nuts.

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ɪf ˌjuː peɪ ˈpiːnʌts ˌjuː ɡɛt ˈmʌŋkiːz/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ɪf ˌju peɪ ˈpiˌnʌts ˌjuː ɡɛt ˈmʌŋkiz/

• Audio (GA)

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• Hyphenation: if you pay pea‧nuts, you get monk‧eys

if you pay peanuts, you get monkeys

1. (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

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

• “if you pay peanuts, you get monkeys”, in Collins English Dictionary.