坐冷板凳

zuòlěngbǎndèng
  1. to hold an inconsequential job
  2. to receive a cold reception
  3. to be kept waiting for an assignment or audience
  4. to be out in the cold
  5. to be sidelined
  6. to warm the bench
  7. to cool one's heels

CEDICT

  1. (figurative) to hold an unimportant post and be neglected; to be sidelined; to be given the cold shoulder
  2. to hold an unimportant post and be neglected; to be sidelined; to be given the cold shoulder

Wiktionary

  1. 讥笑塾师或候补官员职务清閒。
  2. 比喻受人冷落。

重編國語辭典

不受重视或遭到冷落

維基詞典

Entry Composition

1 坐 zuò
  1. to sit
  2. to take a seat
  3. to take (a bus, airplane etc)
  4. to bear fruit
  5. variant of 座 zuò
2 冷板凳 lěngbǎndèng
  1. (figurative) relaxed and unimportant post; back seat; cold reception; cold shoulder
  2. (historical) seat for the (leisurely and slighted) teachers in private schools in old times
  3. relaxed and unimportant post; back seat; cold reception; cold shoulder
  4. seat for the (leisurely and slighted) teachers in private schools in old times