carrot and stick

Idioms  

1. Reward and punishment used as persuasive measures, as in Management dangled the carrot of a possible raise before strikers, but at the same time waved the stick of losing their pension benefits. This term alludes to enticing a horse or donkey to move by dangling a carrot before it and, either alternately or at the same time, urging it forward by beating it with a stick. [Late 1800s]

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Example Sentences

Al-Saadi and others regularly organized more protests in Aden, despite the STC employing both carrot and stick, reassuring Al-Saadi that Ashaal would be found and to be patient, while dispatching riot police to disperse Ashaal-related gatherings and arresting participants.

From Los Angeles Times

It’s a “carrot” and “stick” approach for the sector, wrote Morgan Stanley analyst Kristie Liwag on Wednesday, pointing out that enforceability, thresholds, and scope are still up in the air.

From Barron's

There was carrot and stick for the rest of the world.

From BBC

Graft in Russia functions as both a carrot and stick.

From Seattle Times

It's part of what analysts call a "carrot and stick" approach to Taiwan.

From BBC