Make hay while the sun shines

Meaning

Take advantage of favorable conditions.

Usage

Encourages timely action when opportunities appear.

Origin & History

Origins and dates here are approximate summaries. Many idioms have disputed or unknown origins, and not every date has been checked against a historical dictionary, so treat specific dates and stories as a starting point rather than a citation.

Farmers harvested hay before the weather turned bad.

English proverb recorded as early as the 1500s.