Carrot ON a stick

Posted by Constantine (Conny) Roussos on December 05, 2000

In Reply to: Carrot ON a stick posted by ESC on February 12, 2000

I cannot say that I am certain about the origin but I know two things.
1. I recall pictures from my childhood (early 50s - pictures much earlier) depicting a carrot dangling from the end of a stick tied to a donkey. I can even recall an adult explaining whiy it should work.

2. It has been used for so long and so ubiquitously as a reward/punishment metaphor that it is now the accepted meaning regardless of the origin.

Many other expressions/words fall into this catagory as well I believe.

Does anyone know the origin of using "meld" to indicate a merging of things. I have my opinion on this but would like to hear others first.