🛋️ Resting on Your Laurels: When Victory Turns to Vanity 🌟
Definition:
To be satisfied with one’s achievement, implying enough satisfaction to not expend further effort. The term dates back to the mid-nineteenth century and references the laurel wreaths given to victors in ancient Greek and Roman athletic contests.
📚 Related Terms, Expressions, & Idioms:
- Sitting on one’s laurels
- Basking in past glories
- Coasting on success
- Getting too comfortable
🥇 Synonyms:
- Self-satisfied
- Complacent
- Contented
- Slack
💡 Antonyms:
- Ambitious
- Hungry (for more)
- Eager
- Driven
🎭 Humor-Filled Quote:
“Resting on your laurels is like sleeping on a memory foam mattress—you’ll sink slowly but surely into the comfort zone.” — Anonymous
🌍 Proverbs & Expressions:
- “Don’t rest on your laurels; they wither with inactivity.”
- “Yesterday’s laurels are today’s wilted leaves.”
- “A rolling stone gathers no moss, but resting stones gather laurels.”
📖 Suggested Literature & Books:
- “The Confidence Man” by Herman Melville – Tackles the vanity of human ambition.
- “American Gods” by Neil Gaiman – Explores the shifting relevance of old gods resting on ancient glory.
🎶 Songs:
- “We Are the Champions” by Queen – An anthem celebrating victory, but remember, the show must go on.
- “The Winner Takes It All” by ABBA – A poignant reminder that winning is only part of the journey.
🎥 Movies:
- “Rocky III” (1982) – Creatively showcases a fighter resting on his laurels who realizes he must reignite his passion.
- “The Pursuit of Happyness” (2006) – Demonstrates a relentless quest for success and how resting isn’t an option.
✍️ Inspirational Farewell:
Never let your laurels turn to lead weights; keep pushing your boundaries, for that’s where the future’s victories lie. Onward!
### What does "resting on your laurels" mean?
- [ ] Taking a break by resting on a pillow made of leaves.
- [ ] Using laurels as gardening tools.
- [x] Being satisfied with one’s past achievements and stopping further efforts.
- [ ] Winning more laurel wreaths in ongoing contests.
> **Explanation:** "Resting on your laurels" means being content with one’s past successes and ceasing further efforts to achieve more.
### What is a synonym for "resting on your laurels"?
- [ ] Ambitious
- [ ] Driven
- [ ] Hangry
- [x] Complacent
> **Explanation:** "Complacent" is a synonym, meaning self-satisfied to the point of being unaware of potential dangers or defects.
### Which of these is NOT an antonym for "resting on your laurels"?
- [ ] Hungry (for more)
- [ ] Ambitious
- [ ] Eager
- [x] Self-satisfied
> **Explanation:** "Self-satisfied" would be a synonym, not an antonym. The others reflect drive and ambition—antonyms.
