The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000.
bread and circuses
PLURAL NOUN:
Offerings, such as benefits or entertainments, intended to placate discontent or distract attention from a policy or situation.
ETYMOLOGY:
Translation of Latin pnem et circnss, a phrase coined by the Roman poet Juvenal : pnem, accusative singular of pnis, bread + et, and + circnss, circus games.
nem et circ
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