carrot–and–stick

adjective car·rot–and–stick \ˌker-ət-^ən-ˈstik, ˌka-rət-\

Definition of CARROT-AND-STICK

: characterized by the use of both reward and punishment to induce cooperation <carrot–and–stick foreign policy>

from the traditional alternatives of driving a donkey on by either holding out a carrot or whipping it with a stick

First Known Use: 1876

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