What is the origin of the phrase "resting on one's laurels"?
Question #48424. Asked by Ron Tripsitter.
Last updated May 14 2021.
pbombard
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pbombard 21 year member
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In the ancient Pythian games held at Delphi in Greece and regarded as second in importance only to the Olympics, the winner was crowned with a wreath of laurels, which has remained a symbol of victory or distinction to the present day. The adjective laureate means 'as if crowned with a laurel-wreath as a sign of special honour'. To rest on one's laurels is (ill-advisedly) to live off one's reputation or refrain from further effort because of satisfaction with what one has already achieved.
https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/rest-on-his-laurels.html