rest on (one's) oars

rest on (one's) oars

To relax after achieving a goal or doing a physically strenuous activity (such as rowing, as the phrase suggests). I know you're happy to have won the election, but you can't just rest on your oars—you need to start planning your first act as class president now. After painting all morning, I had to rest on my oars for a bit before I moved on to the next room.See also: oar, on, rest

rest on your oars

or

lean on your oars

BRITISH, OLD-FASHIONEDIf a person or organization rests on their oars or leans on their oars, they do not work hard enough to make sure that they remain successful or get things done. The company has been resting on its oars and its competitors are catching up. Firms often take their time over making necessary changes, leaning on their oars while another study is done and another year goes by.See also: oar, on, rest

rest on your oars

1 cease rowing by leaning on the handles of your oars, thereby lifting them horizontally out of the water. 2 relax your efforts. A US variant of this phrase is lay on your oars .See also: oar, on, rest