bad money drives out good —(saying ) worthless people or things supplant more valuable:
- The drain of human resources is one example where “bad money drives out good.”
Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase throw good money after bad—waste more money or supplies in hopes of recouping previous losses:
- Creating another failing system to replace the current one is throwing good money after bad.
bad penny always turns up, a—(saying ) a worthless person always returns:
- “What if I never see him again?” “Don’t worry. A bad penny always turns up.”