Fig.: to rely on one's past reputation to maintain one's position, without making any further effort

After getting an A in maths in her midterm, Rita unwisely decided to rest on her laurels the rest of the semester and ended up with a D

A metà quadrimestre Rita aveva 9 in matematica, poi, poco saggiamente, ha pensato bene di riposare sugli allori per il resto del quadrimestre, e si è ritrovata con un misero 6 sulla pagella

Although our company is very successful, in recession times such as these, we cannot rest on our laurels but we must find new market strategies

Nonostante la nostra ditta riscuota molto successo, in tempi di recessione come gli attuali, non possiamo riposare sugli allori ma dobbiamo darci da fare ed escogitare nuove strategie di mercato

Ancient Greeks used to crown heroes, poets and victors at the Pythian Games (and other similar contests) with a wreath of laurel leaves, which was a plant sacred to Apollo. In English “laurels” has symbolized victory since the XVI century. The Romans gave similar awards for outstanding military achievements. In the Middle Ages, a wreath made of laurel leaves and berries (called bacca laurea) was awarded to eminent scholars; hence the academic title of baccalaureate