Question:

Directions: Choose the option that best expresses the meaning of the given idiom/phrase.

The carrot and stick policy pays dividends in every organization.

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Picture a carrot dangled ahead and a stick held behind, one to attract and one to push.
Updated On: Jul 21, 2026
  • Rigorous training
  • Continuous vigilance
  • Democratic approach
  • Reward and punishment
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The Correct Option is D

Solution and Explanation

The idiom "carrot and stick" describes a method that combines an incentive with a threat to make people act a certain way.

  1. Rigorous training: This means intensive skill building, which has nothing to do with balancing an incentive and a threat. Wrong.
  2. Continuous vigilance: This means staying constantly alert and watchful, unrelated to motivating people through gain and loss. Wrong.
  3. Democratic approach: This implies decisions made through shared discussion and voting, which is not what the carrot and stick idiom describes. Wrong.
  4. Reward and punishment: The carrot, food offered to lead an animal forward, and the stick, used to drive it, together stand for offering a reward while holding back a punishment to get the desired behaviour. This matches the idiom exactly. Correct.

Reward and punishment is the only option matching the idiom's meaning, so option Reward and punishment is correct.

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