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bread and circuses

plural noun
Offerings, such as benefits or entertainments, intended to placate discontent or distract attention from a policy or situation.

Origin:

Origin: Translation of Latin pānem et circēnsēs, a phrase coined by the Roman poet Juvenal

Origin: : pānem

Origin: , accusative singular of pānis, bread

Origin: + et, and

Origin: + circēnsēs, circus games

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