bread and circuses

== English == === Etymology === Calque of Latin panem et circenses, a reference to Satire 10 of the Roman poet Juvenal’s Satires (early 2nd century C.E.). The relevant passage states: “[...] nam qui dabat olim imperium, fasces, legiones, omnia, nunc se continet atque duas tantum res anxius optat, panem et circenses” (“[F]or that sovereign people that once gave away military command, consulships, legions, and every thing, now bridles its desires, and limits its anxious longings to two things only,—bread, and the games of the circus!”). Juvenal was commenting that the Roman people no longer cared for political involvement, and were satisfied with cheap food and entertainment provided by politicians. === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈbɹɛd ənd ˈsəː.kəs.əz/, /-iz/ (General American) IPA(key): /ˈbɹɛd ənd ˈsɚ.kə.səz/, /-kɪ.səz/ Hyphenation: bread and cir‧cus‧es === Noun === bread and circuses pl (plural only) (idiomatic) Food and entertainment provided by the state, particularly if intended to placate the people. Synonym: bread and games (by extension) Grand spectacles staged or statements made to distract and pacify people. ==== Translations ==== === References === === Further reading === bread and circuses on Wikipedia.Wikipedia