live off one's past capital; rest on one's laurels
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesverb phrase
to live off one's past capital; to rest on one's laurels
neutralOriginally a financial term meaning to consume one's capital. Now it is a common metaphor for people who rely on past achievements, qualifications, or skills without making new efforts to improve or progress.
Tā他
zì自
cóng从
dé得
le了
guàn冠
jūn军
hòu后
jiù就
yī一
zhí直
chī吃
lǎo老
běn本
，
xùn训
liàn练
yě也
bù不
nà那
me么
rèn认
zhēn真
le了
。
Since winning the championship, he has been resting on his laurels and his training has not been as diligent.
Gōng公
sī司
bù不
néng能
guāng光
chī吃
lǎo老
běn本
，
bì必
xū须
bù不
duàn断
chuàng创
xīn新
cái才
néng能
shēng生
cún存
。
A company cannot just live off its past successes; it must innovate constantly to survive.
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Bié别
zǒng总
chī吃
nǐ你
zài在
dà大
xué学
lǐ里
xué学
de的
nà那
diǎn点
lǎo老
běn本
，
háng行
yè业
zhī知
shi识
gēng更
xīn新
hěn很
kuài快
de的
。
Don't always rely on the little capital you learned in university; industry knowledge updates very quickly.