Carrot-and-stick Definition

kărət-ən-stĭk
adjective
Combining a promised reward with a threatened penalty.
Took a carrot-and-stick approach to the rehabilitation of juvenile offenders.
American Heritage
noun
Alternative spelling of carrot and stick.
Wiktionary
(idiomatic) Simultaneous rewards for good behavior and punishments for bad behavior.
Wiktionary
(idiomatic) A promised reward to encourage good behaviour that is never actually delivered.
Wiktionary

Other Word Forms of Carrot-and-stick

Noun

Singular:
carrot-and-stick
Plural:
carrots-and-sticks

Origin of Carrot-and-stick

  • From combining two ways to motivate a beast of burden, with the lure of a carrot placed just out of reach, and the threat of a stick behind.

    From Wiktionary

  • From a stick attached to an animal with a carrot at the far end out of reach of the animal, which will compel the animal to walk forward

    From Wiktionary

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