laurel

A creeping wildflower with pink and white flowers and evergreen leaves. The plant is also known as the "Mayflower" and the "trailing arbutus," and it is found throughout eastern North America. It just doesn't feel like spring until I see the ground laurel start to bloom in our backyard.

Fig. to take care not to lower or diminish one's reputation or position, especially in relation to that of someone else potentially better. With the arrival of the new member of the football team, James will have to look to his laurels to remain as the highest scorer. The older members of the team will have to look to their laurels when the new players arrive.

Fig. to stop trying because one is satisfied with one's past achievements. Despite our success, this is no time to rest on our laurels. We rested on our laurels too long. Our competitors took away a lot of our business.

to be so satisfied with your achievements that you make no effort to improve Even though you did well on all your exams, you can't simply rest on your laurels.

to make an extra effort to succeed because there is more competition Nowadays there are a number of rival products on the market and the older, established companies are having to look to their laurels.

to be so satisfied with your own achievements that you make no effort to improve Just because you passed all your exams, that's no reason to rest on your laurels.

Protect one's preeminent reputation or position, especially against a threat of being surpassed. For example, Your opponent's done very well in the practice, so you'd better look to your laurels in the actual game . This idiom alludes to laurels as the traditional material for making a victor's crown. [Late 1800s]

Rely on one's past achievements, especially as a way of avoiding the work needed to advance one's status. For example, Now that Julian's in his eighties, he's decided to rest on his laurels and let some of the younger agents do the work . This term alludes to the crown of laurels awarded in ancient times for a spectacular achievement. [Late 1800s]

To rely on one's past achievements instead of working to maintain or advance one's status or reputation.

To stop participating because of satisfaction with past achievements. The ancient Greeks crowned their victorious athletes and poets with wreaths made from the laurel bush, as did the Romans to honor their triumphant generals. People who have in their own estimation been sufficiently successful and retire from whatever endeavor they were successful in are said to be resting on their laurels.