carrot

carrot-and-stick

if you use a carrot-and-stick method to make someone do something, you both offer rewards and threaten punishments. I've had to take the carrot-and-stick approach to disciplining my kids. The harder they work, the more money they get. (always before noun)

a carrot-top (informal)

a person with hair that is an orange colour. Joe's blond and Rosie's a carrot-top.

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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: stick