a carrot and stick

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a carrot and stick (approach)

rewards and punishments that influence someone's behavior Our company uses a carrot and stick - more money is the carrot, loss of your job is the stick.

Usage notes: used in different forms to describe different combinations of rewards and punishments: Management's proposed deal is all stick and no carrot. The latest round of peace talks offers both sides the carrot as well as the stick.

Etymology: based on the reward of a carrot (a long orange vegetable) and the punishment of using a stick to encourage a horse to move

See also: and, carrot, stick

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References in periodicals archive	?		Idioms browser	?		Full browser	?
It's a carrot and stick approach," says joint commissioning manager Mohammed Sidat. The carrot and stick approach to addicts; In the last of a series of ... by Huddersfield Daily Examiner (Huddersfield, England) A carrot and stick approach is the only sensible way forward but military sabrerattling should be ruled out. Launch a peace bid by The Mirror (London, England) Cuba's communist government has said it is willing to talk if the United States does not take a carrot and stick approach, and US president elect Barack Obama has said he would take some partial measures to ease some US policies toward Havana. Benicio del Toro urges Cuba, US to talk by AFP / AFP Global Edition			a bossy boots a bottomless pit a brain box a brain drain a brain trust a breath of fresh air a bright spark a bright spot a broad church a Bronx cheer a bucks party a bully pulpit a bum rap a bum steer a bumpy ride a bundle of joy A burnt child dreads the fire a busman's holiday a buzz word a C-note a call girl a calling card a camp follower a can of worms a carbon copy a carrot and stick a carrot-top a case in point a cash cow a cattle market a cause célêbre a change of heart a change of pace a charley horse a cheap shot a chef d'oeuvre a chicken and egg situation a chink in armour a chinless wonder a chip off the old block a chip on shoulder a chunk of change a clarion call a clean bill of health a clean break a clean sheet a clean slate a clean sweep a clever clogs a clever dick a close call			A capella a capella singing A capful of wind A cappela A cappela a cappella a cappella a cappella a cappella singing A cappellas A cappellas A car A car a carbon copy a card up sleeve a card up sleeve a card up sleeve A Carinae A Carnegie A Carnegie A Carotid Stenting Trial for High-Risk Surgical Patients A Carotid Stenting Trial for High-Risk Surgical Patients A Carotid Stenting Trial for High-Risk Surgical Patients A Carotid Stenting Trial for High-Risk Surgical Patients A carotis communis A carotis communis A carotis communis A carotis externa A carotis externa A carotis externa a carrot and stick a carrot-top A Case against the GO TO Statement a case in point a cash cow A cast of the eye a Catch 22 situation a cattle market a cause célêbre A Cause Des Garçons A Celebration of Music A cell A Cell Adhesion Specific Molecule A Center for Human Potential A Center for Theatre, Education, and Research A Century of Flight A Certain Kind of Different a ceteris dissentire A Chacun Sa Niche A chain A chain A Challenge of Honour A Challenge to Impeachment A Challenge to Impeachment A Challenge to Impeachment A Chamberlain a chance of precipitation a change of heart

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