a carrot and stick



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

Common Names:

NameGenderPronouncedUsage
VÁClava-Czech
GereonGE-re-awn (German)German, Late Roman
KeefeKEEFIrish, English (Rare)
PiaPEE-ah (Italian, Danish, German)Italian, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, German, Polish, Slovene, Late Roman
Brynhildr-Norse Mythology, Ancient Scandinavian
Cirila-Slovene