冷板凳

lěngbǎndèng

noun #16,700

Meanings

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

HSK 1

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.

HSK 7-9

那个球员整个赛季都在坐冷板凳。

Nàge qiúyuán zhěnggè sàijì dōu zài zuò lěngbǎndèng.

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