stick
stick it is easy to find a stick to beat a dog proverbial saying, mid 16th century; meaning that it is easy to find reasons to criticize someone who is vulnerable.
stick-and-carrot a method of persuasion combining the threat of punishment with the promise of reward; a carrot dangled in front of a donkey was a proverbial method of tempting the animal to move.
sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me proverbial saying, late 19th century; meaning that verbal attack does no real injury (compare hard words break no bones).
See also big stick, up like a rocket, down like a stick, the short end of the stick.
stick-and-carrot a method of persuasion combining the threat of punishment with the promise of reward; a carrot dangled in front of a donkey was a proverbial method of tempting the animal to move.
sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me proverbial saying, late 19th century; meaning that verbal attack does no real injury (compare hard words break no bones).
See also big stick, up like a rocket, down like a stick, the short end of the stick.
More From encyclopedia.com
NEARBY TERMS
stick