sop to Cerberus
sop to Cer·be·rus
-ˈsərb(ə)rəs
: a concession or bribe to conciliate a person otherwise liable to be troublesome
Word History
Etymology
after Cerberus, 3-headed dog guarding the entrance to Hades; from the sop given him by Aeneas in Vergil's Aeneid (6,417) to engage his attention while Aeneas slipped by