IdiomFood & Drink

English

work for peanuts

Meaning: To work for very little pay.

Example: “Many artists work for peanuts when they start out.”

Origin: Peanuts were cheap snacks, so "peanuts" came to mean a trivial sum in American English in the early 20th century.

Equivalents in other languages

French: Travailler pour le roi de Prusse Literally: To work for the King of Prussia

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can't carry a tune in a bucket Sings very badly.
a smash hit To be a huge success.
beat someone to a pulp To beat someone very severely.
firing on all cylinders Working at full power and efficiency.

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