Peanuts in the sense of ‘a small sum of money’ (esp. when considered as inadequate payment) originated as mid 20th-cent. US slang.
Shareholders want the best available businessmen to lead the companies and recognise that you get what you pay for. If you pay in peanuts, you must expect to get monkeys.
[1966 L. Coulthard in Director Aug. 228]
‘That's forty thousand we're giving away. Seems an awful lot.’ ‘If you pay peanuts,’ said Ashman, ‘you get monkeys.’
[1979 P. Alexander Show me Hero iii.]
The companies' chief negotiator‥was greeted with shouts of ‘if you pay peanuts, you get monkeys’.
[1979 Guardian 11 Sept. 30]
‘How much is‥this photo-enhancement going to cost my client?’ ‘A bundle. ‥But in my experience, if you pay peanuts, you get monkeys.’
[1994 S. Reuben Origin and Cause xvii. 107]
Related to: employers and employees; money
Bibliography of major proverb collections and works cited from modern editions is available here.
