PhrasesHub

Looking to your laurels

    Definitions

      • discourage someone
        Advise against engaging in a particular activity or task, cautioning that it will not result in any positive outcome or benefit

      • be vigilant
        Remind someone to be aware of potential competition or threats to their position or achievements

    Examples of Looking to your laurels

    • The sales executive was so successful in the previous year that his colleagues started advising him to stop taking things for granted and not start looking to his laurels.

      In this context, 'looking to your laurels' means being complacent, or too content with your past successes and achievements, that you stop trying hard or being productive. Laurels are a symbol of victory or accomplishment, and in ancient Greece, victorious athletes used to wear a wreath made of the leaves of the laurel tree. This idiom is used to caution people, especially those who have achieved a lot, against becoming overconfident and lazy, and instead, encouraging them to strive hard and continue working hard to maintain their position and success. Here, the sales executive's colleagues are advising him not to become conceited or overconfident, since he has achieved a lot already, but to continue working hard and not become complacent or stop making efforts.

    • After achieving great success in her career, Jane became too complacent and started looking to her laurels.

      "Looking to your laurels" is an idiom that means being overly satisfied with one's achievements and failing to strive for further progress or success. In this example, Jane had already achieved a lot, but instead of continuing to work hard and aim for new accomplishments, she became too content with her earlier successes.

    • The company had a long history of innovation, but it started looking to its laurels when its competitors began to catch up.

      This example shows howlooking to your laurels can be a dangerous habit, especially in a competitive market. When the company became complacent, it failed to keep up with the industry changes and lost its edge.

    • The athlete had won numerous championships, but she knew that looking to her laurels could mean finishing second or third in her next competition.

      In this example, the athlete recognizes that looking to one's laurels can lead to a false sense of security and cause a decline in performance. She understands that being overly satisfied with her earlier successes could result in losing her position as the best in the sport.

    • The sales team had reached their annual targets, and some of them started looking to their laurels, thinking that they could relax until the next fiscal year.

      This example shows how looking to your laurels can be detrimental to personal growth and career development. The sales team's complacency could lead to a dip in performance, and they might not meet their objectives for the following year. It's essential to continue working hard and setting new goals to maintain productivity.

    • The athlete was looking to his laurels after winning multiple gold medals in the Olympics.

      When someone has achieved great success and is feeling satisfied, they may start to become complacent and stop working as hard as they did to achieve that success. In this example, the athlete has already won multiple gold medals, and while he may still be training and competing, he may be less motivated to put in as much effort as he did before, as he feels he has already proven himself. The idiom "looking to your laurels" means to be satisfied with your achievements and not working as hard as you could or should be.

    • The CEO of the company was looking to her laurels after the company's record-breaking profits.

      This example is similar to the first, but instead of an athlete, it's a CEO who has achieved great success for her company. However, just like the athlete, she may stop working as hard and pushing herself to achieve even greater success, as she feels satisfied with the current level of performance.

    • The student was accused of looking to his laurels during the final exam.

      In this example, the student may have become overconfident in his knowledge and ability, and as a result, may have stopped studying or preparing as much for the exam. The accuser may have noticed this and assumed that the student is being lazy and not taking the exam seriously, which can negatively affect his grade or performance.


    Conclusion

    The idiom "looking to your laurels" can be used to discourage someone from pursuing a certain activity or to caution them about potential threats to their position. It can also be used to remind someone to be vigilant about protecting their achievements and position.

    It is often used in a cautionary or advisory context, where someone is warning another person to be careful and not become complacent in their current situation or pursuits.

    Origin of "Looking to your laurels"

    The idiom "looking to your laurels" has its origins in ancient Greece and Rome, where laurel wreaths were worn as a symbol of victory and achievement. The phrase refers to the act of being vigilant in protecting one's accomplishments and not becoming complacent. In ancient times, athletes and scholars who had achieved great success were awarded laurel wreaths, and the phrase was used to remind them to remain vigilant and not rest on their laurels.

    Over time, the idiom has evolved to be used in a more general sense, to caution someone against becoming complacent in their achievements and to remind them to be aware of potential competition or threats. The phrase has become a common way to advise someone to remain vigilant and not take their current position or success for granted.