carrot
A long, usually orange vegetable that grows in the ground and is eaten raw or cooked.
A long, thin root vegetable with an orange (or sometimes other colored) flesh, usually eaten raw or cooked as food.
Something good that you offer to a person so they will do what you want.
A reward or benefit that is offered to persuade someone to do something, often contrasted with punishment or threat.
A strong orange color, like a carrot, often used to talk about hair.
A bright orange color similar to that of a carrot, especially used informally about hair or fur.
- Base: carrot
- Plural: carrots
carrot and stick
1using reward and punishment together
A way to control or motivate people by offering rewards and also using threats or punishment.
- The government is using a carrot and stick approach to cut pollution, offering tax breaks but also raising fines.
- Parents often use the carrot and stick, giving treats for good behavior and time-outs for bad behavior.
- The manager chose a carrot and stick policy to push the team to meet the deadline.
dangle a carrot
1offer a tempting reward
To offer or show a reward so that someone will want to do what you ask.
- The company dangled a promotion as a carrot to get him to move overseas.
- They dangled the carrot of extra holidays if we finished the project early.
- Politicians often dangle tax cuts as a carrot during election campaigns.
hold out a carrot
1present a reward as incentive
To offer a reward so that someone will agree to do something.
- The city held out a carrot of cheaper rent to attract new artists.
- Management held out the carrot of higher pay if staff accepted the new contract.
- They held out a carrot, promising new investments if the law was passed.
offer a carrot
1give a reward as incentive
To give or suggest something good so that a person will do what you want.
- The teacher offered a carrot of extra points for students who handed in the assignment early.
- They offered a carrot to new customers in the form of a free trial month.
- Instead of threats, the boss offered a carrot: flexible hours for better performance.
the carrot and the stick
1the reward and the punishment
The reward and the punishment that are used together to make someone do something.
- Leaders must decide how to balance the carrot and the stick when dealing with other countries.
- In training a dog, the carrot and the stick can mean treats and a firm voice.
- The deal relies on the carrot and the stick: more aid if reforms happen, fewer loans if they do not.