IdiomDaily Life
French
FrenchLes délices de Capoue
Meaning: Comfort that saps the will to keep fighting.
Literally: The delights of Capua
Example: “Après son premier succès, le romancier s'est endormi dans les délices de Capoue.” — After his first success, the novelist got comfortable and rested on his laurels.
English equivalent: To rest on one's laurels
Other ways to say this
Italian: adagiarsi sugli allori Literally: To rest oneself on the laurels
English: rest on one's laurels- French: Se reposer sur ses lauriers Literally: To rest on one's laurels
Origin: After Cannae in 216 BC, Hannibal wintered his army in Capua, and Roman historians blamed the city's luxuries for the loss of momentum that cost him the war. Whether the account is fair is another matter; the phrase assumes it.
More French idioms
- Jeter son dévolu sur quelque chose To settle firmly on something one intends to have.
- À Dieu ne plaise God forbid.
- Dieu reconnaîtra les siens Act without discriminating and let a higher authority sort out the innocent.
- Mon petit doigt m'a dit I know something you did not expect me to know.
- Dorer la pilule To make an unpleasant fact easier to accept by dressing it up.
- Qui dort dîne Sleep takes the place of a meal you cannot afford.
Explore another collection: Tongue Twisters
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- Un chasseur sachant chasser doit savoir chasser sans son chien. The classic French 'ch' / 's' tangler.
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