sop
UK: sɒp | US: sɑːp
n. 1. A piece of food soaked in liquid before eating.
n. 2. Something given to pacify or bribe (often derogatory).
vt. To soak or drench something thoroughly in liquid.
The word "sop" traces back to Old English sopp, meaning a piece of bread soaked in liquid, often used in cooking or as a humble meal. Over time, it evolved metaphorically to describe a concession or bribe (e.g., "a sop to Cerberus," referencing the mythological practice of pacifying the underworld guardian with food). The verb form retains the original sense of soaking.
She dipped a sop of bread into the warm soup.
The tax cut was merely a sop to the angry voters.
He sopped up the spilled milk with a towel.
In medieval times, sops were common in peasant diets.
The manager offered a small bonus as a sop to the disgruntled team.