吃老本 Live off one’s past gains
【注音】chī lǎo běn
【解释】“老本”就是最开始时的投资，比喻原来的资历、成绩、贡献和能力等。做生意，如果你把本投进去了，老是不赚钱，最后连“老本”都赔光了。一个人没有什么新的作为，只是依靠过去的声誉或影响生存，当然不会长久的。所以吃老本的人是会被人瞧不起或没有前途的。
Lao Ben is your starting capital, here is used as a metaphor for your past qualifications, achievements and capabilities. Take business as an example, after you put in your starting capital, if you can’t make a profit from it, you’ll be losing your “old capital”. And as a man, if he only rests on his laurels gained before but makes no new accomplishments, it won’t last very long. Therefore, those who live off their past gains will be looked down upon and won’t have a prospect.
【例子】
例1：
A：生意怎么样，李老板？
B：咳，别提了，这一段时间全靠吃老本。现在生意难做呀。
Ex1.：
A：How is the business, Manager Li?
B：Don’t mention it. I’ve been living off my past gains all these days. It’s getting harder and harder to make money.

例2：
A：你的身体不错嘛？
B：全是吃过去的老本，现在天天这么忙，锻炼太少，一天比一天胖了。
Ex2.：
A：You are in very good health, ah?
B：That’s all built on my past. Now I’m too busy to find time for exercise. I’m putting on weight day by day.

例3：我们公司虽然是著名的大公司，但是我们应该在工作上有创造性，发挥想象力，敢于否定过去，不能光吃老本。
Ex3.：We are a big company with a high reputation, but still needs to blaze new trails and be bold to negate our past. It won’t do if we just live off our past gains.
                 
出气筒
Punching bag
【注音】chū qì tóng
【解释】也叫“受气包”，就是无端受气的人。
Also called shou qi bao. This is a metaphor for those who are bullied or suffer wrong for no reason.
【例子】
例：别有火就往我身上发，我不是你们的出气筒。
Ex.：Don’t take it out on me. I’m not here for you to vent your anger on.