to wait for the outcome of a conflict or fight before committing to a side; to remain neutral for opportunistic reasons

面对这两家公司的竞争，他选择坐观成败，想等局势明朗后再做决定。

to sit and await success or failure without intervening; to take a passive observation approach

他在朋友遇到困难时却坐观成败，这让大家都很失望。