Choose the correct meaning of the idiom:
'Rest on one's laurels'
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
Explanation
Correct Answer:-
To stop putting in effort after past success
Explanation:-
The idiom 'Rest on one's laurels' means to be so satisfied with what you have already achieved that you do not make any further effort to accomplish more. The phrase has historical roots in ancient Greece, where victors in athletic or poetic contests were crowned with wreaths made of laurel leaves as a symbol of honor and distinction. To "rest" on those laurels implies that a person is relying entirely on past glories instead of continuing to work hard.
To relax after failure and ignore work is incorrect because the idiom specifically deals with the aftermath of achieving a victory or success, not a failure.
To dream about future victories describes ambition or wishful thinking, whereas resting on laurels describes complacency regarding the past.
To be jealous of others' achievements describes envy, which is completely unrelated to a person's attitude toward their own past accomplishments.
Key Points
Core Definition Idiom interpretation requires identifying a figurative expression's established cultural and contextual meaning rather than relying on a literal translation of the words.
Grammatical Role Connecting historical and symbolic noun references to contemporary behavioral descriptions within standard verbal ability evaluations.