This article mentions "carrot and a stick" incentives. This is the second time I've heard it. I always thought people meant "carrot on a stick" incentives like you sit on a horse and hang a carrot on a stick in front of them so they walk forward but never get the carrot. So did the phrase get bastardized or do I not know how to use words?



Also, how many of you are looking at this thread and saying to yourself, "I could care less"? If you are, stop saying that.

Drew

3247 Posts

Posted Mar 7, 2008
4:56pm EST
Carrot on a stick makes me think of the carrot physically shoved onto the stick like when you roast a hot dog or marshmellow, since it is commonly thought to be hanging from a stick, carrot and a stick would be closer to carrot hanging from a stick then carrot on a stick. But that's just my personal opinion, God knows I'm no English major.

sophieD

36 Posts

Posted Mar 7, 2008
5:11pm EST
"Carrot on a stick" seems more like snurdnurgaling (somehow I don't feel bad that I don't know how to spell that word), and I think "Carrot and a stick" doesn't quite capture the idea either though, it sounds more like crossing swords. How about "carrot dangling precariously from stick" incentives, or "carrot attached to end of stick using a string" incentives. Perhaps "just the tip" incentives.

acelxix

1748 Posts

Posted Mar 7, 2008
8:08pm EST
i prefer just the tip to either carrot on a stick or carrot and a stick. i also like guess who.

uknowme

208 Posts

Posted Mar 8, 2008
3:48am EST
to be the loser who answers seriously, I'd always heard it as 'carrot and stick' as in combining bribe and threat to the most effective ratio

Mike

1973 Posts

Posted Mar 8, 2008
4:03am EST
No, Mike. We know you thought they were "things that might be go up your butt," which you took neither as a bribe nor a threat, but an intriguing proposition.

Smoov B

1049 Posts

Posted Mar 8, 2008
12:48pm EST
funny word in spanish

uknowme

208 Posts

Posted Mar 20, 2008
6:30pm EDT