use both carrot and stick; employ soft and hard tactics
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
to employ both soft (gentle) and hard (forceful) tactics; to use carrot and stick; to combine threats with promises
derogatoryOften used to describe coercive strategies in negotiations, management, or politics. The phrase carries a negative connotation, implying manipulation or pressure.
Lǎo老
bǎn板
duì对
yuán员
gōng工
ruǎn软
yìng硬
jiān兼
shī施
，
qiǎng强
pò迫
tā他
men们
zhōu周
mò末
jiā加
bān班
。
The boss used both threats and promises to force the employees to work overtime on weekends.
Tán谈
pàn判
shí时
，
duì对
fāng方
ruǎn软
yìng硬
jiān兼
shī施
，
shì试
tú图
ràng让
wǒ我
men们
jiē接
shòu受
bù不
hé合
lǐ理
de的
jià价
gé格
。
During negotiations, the other side employed both hard and soft tactics, trying to get us to accept an unreasonable price.
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Zhèng政
fǔ府
bù不
néng能
duì对
mín民
zhòng众
ruǎn软
yìng硬
jiān兼
shī施
，
ér而
yīng应
gāi该
yī依
fǎ法
xíng行
zhèng政
。
The government cannot use carrot-and-stick tactics on the people; it should govern according to the law.