坐冷板凳 (zuò lěng bǎn dèng) — to be sidelined; to be kept waiting without attention or assignment; to hold a position without real power
Definition
A set phrase meaning to be sidelined — kept in a position with no real role or attention. Literally 'sit on a cold bench'; often describes someone passed over for promotion or ignored by decision-makers.
verb
to be sidelinedto be kept waiting without attention or assignmentto hold a position without real power
Examples
- ，。Tā zài gōng sī zuò le sān nián lěng bǎn dèng, zhōng yú bèi tí bá le.He was sidelined at the company for three years before finally getting promoted.
- ，。Bié ràng wǒ yì zhí zuò lěng bǎn dèng, gěi wǒ yí gè biǎo xiàn de jī huì ba.Don't keep me waiting on the sidelines — give me a chance to show what I can do.
- ，。Zhè wèi lǎo jiào shòu suī rán guà zhe gù wèn de tóu xián, shí jì shang yì zhí zài zuò lěng bǎn dèng.Although this old professor holds the title of advisor, he has actually been sidelined all along.
Origin
Appears in
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