bread and circuses
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
They’re capitalist endeavors, not charity cases, whose stated mission is to provide bread and circuses to the masses while making as much profit as possible in the process.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 21, 2025
It will be bread and circuses, only with no bread.
From Salon ● Nov. 26, 2024
We might ask our governments to aim for more than mere bread and circuses, though.
From Washington Post ● Nov. 4, 2022
“Give them food and cake and they won’t revolt?” she said, paraphrasing the ancient saying about bread and circuses.
From New York Times ● Feb. 13, 2022
Empires have been made possible by "bread and circuses"; by appealing to an abnormally developed sense of patriotism; by the rule of might where largess and cajolery have failed.
From The American Empire by Scott Nearing
