冷板凳

lěngbǎndèng

noun #16,700

Meanings

Literally 'cold plank bench' — the bench nobody wants to sit on, implying being left out.

他在公司坐了三年冷板凳。

Tā zài gōngsī zuò le sānnián lěngbǎndèng.

He was sidelined at the company for three years.

那个球员整个赛季都在坐冷板凳。

Nàge qiúyuán zhěnggè sàijì dōu zài zuòlěngbǎndèng.

That player warmed the bench the entire season.

usage

Almost always used with 坐 (sit): 坐冷板凳 = to be sidelined / to warm the bench. Used in both workplace and sports contexts.

冷 lěng

板 bǎn

凳 dèng