rest on one's laurels

lau·rel

R r

Transcription

- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
- [lawr-uh l, lor-]
- /rɛst ɒn, ɔn wʌnz ˈlɑːr-/
- /rest ɒn wʌnz ˈlɒr.əl/

- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- [lawr-uh l, lor-]
- /rɛst ɒn, ɔn wʌnz ˈlɑːr-/

Definitions of rest on one's laurels words

noun rest on one's laurels Also called bay, sweet bay. a small European evergreen tree, Laurus nobilis, of the laurel family, having dark, glossy green leaves. Compare laurel family. 1
noun rest on one's laurels any tree of the genus Laurus. 1
noun rest on one's laurels any of various similar trees or shrubs, as the mountain laurel or the great rhododendron. 1
noun rest on one's laurels the foliage of the laurel as an emblem of victory or distinction. 1
noun rest on one's laurels a branch or wreath of laurel foliage. 1
noun rest on one's laurels Usually, laurels. honor won, as for achievement in a field or activity. 1

See all 12 definitions of rest on one's laurels

Information block about the term

Origin of rest on one's laurels

First appearance:

before 1250

One of the 11% oldest English words

1250-1300; dissimilated variant of Middle English laurer, earlier lorer < Anglo-French; Old French lorier bay tree, equivalent to lor bay, laurel (< Latin laurus) + -ier -ier2; see -er2

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Rest on one's laurels

noun

adjective

verb

adverb

pronoun

preposition

conjunction

determiner

exclamation

Full grammatical hierarchy of Rest on one's laurels

rest on one's laurels popularity

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 96% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.

Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".

Matching words

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