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.
It is the same movie, slightly tweaked and constantly referencing and reminding you of the original, delivering what you already loved about “Gladiator”: strength and honor, bread and circuses, blood and guts.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 21, 2024
Instead, at the end of the day, as the world spins out of control, people want bread and circuses to keep them from contemplating the horrors that we ourselves have created.
From Salon ● Nov. 2, 2023
“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
It’s almost like saying, you can do anything you want as long as you give bread and circuses to the people.
From Slate ● Dec. 14, 2018
Cannons and colour, bands and decorations, bread and circuses, emperors uncovering to us, beautiful queens waving dainty handkerchiefs—this is what lies behind the dry Treaties of the history books.
From Without Prejudice by Israel Zangwill
