bread and circuses
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something, as extravagant entertainment, offered as an expedient means of pacifying discontent or diverting attention from a source of grievance.[1910-15; trans. of L panis et circenses; from a remark by the Roman satirist Juvenal on the limited desires of the Roman populace]
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Universalium. 2010.
Look at other dictionaries:
Bread and circuses — (or Bread and games) (from Latin: panem et circenses ) is an ancient Roman metaphor for people choosing food and fun over freedom. It often appears in commentary that accuses people of giving up their civic duty and following whichever political… … Wikipedia
bread and circuses — Activites that entertain people and distract them from problems to keep them from complaining or protesting are bread and circuses … The small dictionary of idiomes
bread and circuses — ► bread and circuses entertainment or political policies intended to keep the masses happy and docile. Main Entry: ↑bread … English terms dictionary
Bread And Circuses — est le troisième album du groupe écossais The View. Liste des musiques Grace Underneath The Lights Tragic Magic Girl Life Friend Beautiful … Wikipédia en Français
bread and circuses — noun plural Etymology: translation of Latin panis et circenses : food and entertainment offered by a government (as a dictatorship) to soothe discontent * * * something, as extravagant entertainment, offered as an expedient means of pacifying… … Useful english dictionary
bread and circuses — activities that are intended to keep people happy so that they do not complain about problems. Tax cuts are just bread and circuses designed to distract attention from the underlying economic crisis … New idioms dictionary
bread and circuses — bread′ and cir′cuses n. pl. cvb something offered so as to pacify discontent or divert attention from a grievance • Etymology: trans. of L pānis et circēnsēs; from a remark by Juvenal on the limited desires of the Roman populace … From formal English to slang
bread and circuses — entertainment or political policies intended to keep the masses happy and docile. → bread … English new terms dictionary
bread and circuses — noun Food and entertainment provided by the state … Wiktionary
bread and circuses — noun plural Etymology: translation of Latin panis et circenses Date: 1894 a palliative offered especially to avert potential discontent … New Collegiate Dictionary
