Definition of carrot-and-stick in US English:
 carrot-and-stick
adjectiveˈkɛrətənˌstɪkˈkerətənˌstik
Characterized by both the offer of reward and the threat of punishment.
 carrot-and-stick reforms intended to break long-term dependency on state and federal handouts
 Example sentencesExamples
-  ‘The project uses a carrot-and-stick approach to bring about change throughout the entire industry,’ says Todd Larson of Coop America.
 -  The council has chosen to interpret this by a carrot-and-stick approach, giving us the option to recycle our garden waste but reducing the normal collections to fortnightly (stick).
 -  A carrot-and-stick approach must be followed if the Executive is to meet its target.
 -  Lyle advocates a carrot-and-stick approach that could shock people into putting money aside.
 -  It's a carrot-and-stick philosophy we use here.
 -  They drew upon a pre-existing fund of conservatism amongst some peasants and workers, while carrot-and-stick methods encouraged many more to join.
 -  The carrot-and-stick strategy at first seemed ingenious or at least crafty.
 -  It is choosing to adopt a carrot-and-stick approach - stressing the legal requirement, but pointing out that being more welcoming to disabled customers makes business sense too.
 -  It might be possible to affect this choice by various carrot-and-stick measures.
 -  Berman said the carrot-and-stick strategy is showing signs of paying off with the number of infringed music files on peer to peer sites in decline, and awareness growing among consumers that file-sharing is a criminal activity.
 -  The Council's battle against dropping butts is to be carried out in a carrot-and-stick manner.
 -  The carrot-and-stick approach being adopted by Bradford West City Community Housing Trust is a commendable attempt to improve the quality of life for its tenants and encourage responsible citizenship.
 -  Says Spencer: ‘We have argued in the past that a carrot-and-stick approach to savings and pensions would be best, with compulsion and tax relief focused at the lower end of the income scale.’
 -  It was clear from his presentation that the carrot-and-stick methods of welfare delivery worked.
 -  The strategy takes a carrot-and-stick approach to change.
 -  In order to curtail consumption, Argentine officials have proposed a carrot-and-stick approach, rewarding households and firms that use energy at a level 95% or below of what they drew upon the preceding year.
 -  Under the carrot-and-stick scheme, all civil servants are required to improve their performance or face penalties.
 -  The international community can play its part by using a carrot-and-stick approach towards the country with respect to monetary aid.
 -  Instead, they often employed a carrot-and-stick method by lightening heavy classical programs with occasional sentimental songs drawn from folk culture.
 -  The campaign to identify defaulters - offshore and onshore - has been remarkably successful and is based on the carrot-and-stick approach.