English Idiom – Make hay while the sun shines.
To make the most of an opportunity while it is available. To take advantage of a favourable situation for as long as you can. If you make hay while the sun shines you ensure you make the best use of opportunities and positive situations.
The origin of this idiom or proverb is fairly self explanatory. Hay can be spoiled by rain or wet weather. Farmers need to make the most of sunny weather during harvest time by completing haymaking tasks such as cutting or drying the hay.
Related Expressions:
- As one door closes, another one opens (idiom) – As one opportunity ends, another opportunity often follows.
- Light at the end of the tunnel (idiom) – The end of a difficult situation, or the solution to a problem.
Usage:
When could you use this idiom?
- You want to leave your job but have been offered extra money to stay.
- The company you work for is offering overtime.
- A football team is trying to win while the opposition team has injuries.
- The conditions for driving are good so you decide to continue driving when you wanted to rest.
Example:
- “I want to move to Australia but my company has offered me a promotion and humongous pay increase. I guess I’ll stay because we have to make hay while the sun shines.”
In the News
Spotted in the newsStephen Bennett making hay while the sun shinesgaa.ieWhat is an idiom?
An idiom is a word or phrase that is not taken literally. An idiom is an expression that cannot be understood from the meanings of its individual words, but has a separate meaning of its own.
Frequently Asked Questions
Make the most of a good opportunity while it lasts.
From farming. Farmers must cut and dry hay while the weather is sunny, because rain spoils it.
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