sop to Cerberus

sop to Cer·​be·​rus

-ˈsərb(ə)rəs

: a concession or bribe to conciliate a person otherwise liable to be troublesome

Word History

Etymology

after Cerberus, 3-headed dog guarding the entrance to Hades; from the sop given him by Aeneas in Vergil's Aeneid (6,417) to engage his attention while Aeneas slipped by

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