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.

So McCarthy has adapted the Roman emperors’ palliative for the potentially mutinous mob: Give the people bread and circuses.

From Los Angeles Times

Right-wingers of that class almost never work for the true needs of the middle- or working-class people who vote for them; instead, they offer the bread and circuses of the culture wars.

From Salon

We demand, if not bread and circuses, then true American camp—a racoon-and-toy-pony show, a hunt for treasure, and White House officials dragged up to entertain our children.

From Salon

Thanks to Dana Milbank for pointing out in his Jan. 29 Sunday Opinion column, “House Republicans bring the bread and circuses,” senators’ overuse of Taylor Swift lyrics in the recent hearing on Ticketmaster.

From Washington Post

“Speaker McCarthy needs to stop ‘bread and circuses’ in Congress,” she said, “and start governing for a change.”

From Slate