victory laps

Noun

victory lap (plural victory laps)

1. A celebratory extra lap of the race track taken after the conclusion of a race.

   Synonyms:

   lap of honour

2. (figuratively) An act of pride or celebration that follows a great achievement or success.
   • But inflation has previously slowed and then picked back up, and the Fed is not yet ready to take a victory lap. Mr. Powell said officials would be watching incoming data ahead of the Fed’s Sept. 20 meeting to decide whether they need to raise interest rates further at that gathering.2023 July 26, Jeanna Smialek, “Fed Raises Rates After a Pause and Leaves Door Open to More”, in The New York Times
3. (Canada, US, slang) One or more years of study beyond the traditional four taken to complete one's undergraduate degree.
   • It’s not just finances that lead to victory laps. Those who study abroad during undergraduate may find it difficult to earn enough credits to fulfill degree requirements in four years.2013 February 25, Vivien Chang, “The myth of the four-year degree”, in Maclean's
4. (Canada, Ontario, slang) One or more additional years of study in high school.
   • An examination of the data generated by the survey instrument revealed the existence of a definitive gender disparity between the two groups in that 47.8% (22 of 46) of male respondents reported having taken a victory lap compared to 20.2% (21 of 104) of their female counterparts.2010 November 18, Patrick Brady, Philip Allingham, “Pathways to University: The ‘Victory Lap’ Phenomenon in Ontario”, in Canadian Journal of Educational Administration and Policy, number 113