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Region: General | Usage example: We made hay while the sun shines by booking early.

Make hay while the sun shines

Meaning

Take advantage of favorable conditions.

Usage

Encourages timely action when opportunities appear.

Origin & History

Origin notes can vary by region and source; this page gives the commonly reported explanation and usage context.

Farmers harvested hay before the weather turned bad.

English proverb recorded as early as the 1500s.

Related Idioms

Make a long story short

Summarize briefly.

Make waves

Cause disturbance or draw attention by challenging norms.

Make a mountain out of a molehill

Exaggerate minor issues.

More Idioms

Break the ice

To do or say something to relieve tension or get conversation going in a social situation.

Cut to the chase

Skip ahead to the most important or exciting part of something.

The ball is in your court

It is now your turn to take action or make a decision.

Throw in the towel

To concede defeat or admit a struggle isn't worth continuing.