Rest on One’s Laurels

The phrase “rest on one’s laurels” refers to the act of becoming complacent or overly satisfied with past achievements, without continuing to put in effort or strive for improvement. It suggests that someone is relying on their previous successes or accomplishments rather than working toward new goals or challenges. The expression originates from ancient Greece and Rome, where a laurel wreath was a symbol of honor and achievement, often given to victors in athletic competitions or military victories. To “rest on one’s laurels” implies that a person is resting on their past glory instead of pursuing further success. In Indonesian, this expression could be translated as “berpuas diri” or “terlalu bergantung pada pencapaian masa lalu”.

Synonyms:

• Be complacent
• Be content with past success
• Rest on one’s past accomplishments
• Live off past glory
• Become stagnant
• Stop striving
• Coast along
• Settle for what you’ve done
• Stop pushing forward
• Languish in past victories

Example Sentences:

• After winning several awards, he started to rest on his laurels and stopped pushing for new achievements.
• Don’t rest on your laurels just because you’ve been promoted; continue to work hard for the next opportunity.
• She was a successful athlete, but she didn’t rest on her laurels; she continued training harder each year.
• They were proud of their past sales performance, but they couldn’t afford to rest on their laurels if they wanted to stay ahead of the competition.
• It’s easy to rest on your laurels when you’ve had success, but true growth comes from continuous effort.
• The company cannot afford to rest on its laurels after last quarter’s success; they need to focus on the next step.
• He’s always been talented, but if he keeps resting on his laurels, he might miss out on future opportunities.
• Don’t rest on your laurels after passing the exam; keep up the hard work.
• She’s been successful in her career, but she refuses to rest on her laurels and is always looking for new challenges.
• It’s tempting to rest on your laurels after achieving something great, but success requires consistent effort.

Related Words:

• Complacency
• Stagnation
• Laziness
• Inactivity
• Self-satisfaction
• Arrogance
• Neglect
• Decline
• Mediocrity
• Apathy

Related Phrasal Verbs:

• Coast along (to progress without putting in much effort, similar to resting on one’s laurels)
• Take it easy (to relax or not push hard, often after a past success, akin to resting on one’s laurels)
• Ease off (to reduce effort or intensity, like resting on one’s laurels)
• Let up (to relax or stop trying as hard, similar to resting on one’s laurels)
• Sit back (to stop making an effort or to be passive, like resting on one’s laurels)
• Kick back (to relax or become passive, often after a period of hard work, similar to resting on one’s laurels)
• Slack off (to reduce effort or stop working as hard, like resting on one’s laurels)
• Phone it in (to do something with minimal effort, similar to resting on one’s laurels)
• Take the foot off the gas (to reduce effort or stop trying as hard, akin to resting on one’s laurels)
• Wind down (to gradually relax or reduce activity, like resting on one’s laurels)

Idiomatic Expressions:

• Live off past glory (to rely on past achievements without seeking new successes, very similar to resting on one’s laurels)
• Burn out (to lose motivation or energy after prolonged effort, often because someone has stopped striving for new goals, like resting on one’s laurels)
• Take one’s foot off the pedal (to reduce one’s effort, similar to resting on one’s laurels)
• Sit on your hands (to do nothing or be passive, like resting on one’s laurels)
• Fly on autopilot (to continue doing something without much effort or change, akin to resting on one’s laurels)
• Bask in past achievements (to enjoy the praise or satisfaction from past successes, similar to resting on one’s laurels)
• Be on cruise control (to do something with little effort because past work has been sufficient, like resting on one’s laurels)
• Live in the past (to focus on past achievements and neglect the present or future, like resting on one’s laurels)
• Go through the motions (to continue doing something without enthusiasm or effort, akin to resting on one’s laurels)
• Drop the ball (to stop paying attention or making an effort after achieving something, like resting on one’s laurels)

The phrase “rest on one’s laurels” is a reminder that while it’s important to acknowledge and celebrate past successes, true growth comes from continued effort and the drive to achieve even more. It suggests that complacency can be a dangerous trap, as it leads to stagnation or decline. The phrase is often used to motivate individuals or organizations to keep striving for improvement and not get too comfortable with previous accomplishments.