meɪk heɪ waɪl ðə sʌn ʃaɪnz
Nature & Weather
neutral
intermediate
- Literally:
- To harvest hay during sunny weather
What does "make hay while the sun shines" mean?
- To take advantage of favorable conditions while they last
- To seize an opportunity before it's gone
Examples
- The market is hot right now—make hay while the sun shines.
- She made hay while the sun shined and sold at the peak.
- We should make hay while the sun shines and complete the outdoor work.
Origin
From farming—hay must be cut and dried while the weather is good. Rain can ruin the harvest, so farmers must work when conditions are favorable.
How to use it
Encourages taking action during favorable times. Common in business and career advice.
Similar expressions
seize the moment
strike while the iron is hot
carpe diem
Opposites
miss the opportunity
procrastinate
wait too long
Related idioms
- out of the blue
Unexpectedly; without warning
- beat around the bush
To avoid talking about the main point of a conversation
- every cloud has a silver lining
There is something positive in every negative situation
- go with the flow
To accept things as they are and adapt accordingly
- once in a blue moon
Very rarely; almost never
- tip of the iceberg
A small visible part of a much larger hidden problem
Use it in a practice answer
Try "make hay while the sun shines" in a CELPIP-style Speaking or Writing task. The AI feedback tells you whether your word choice worked.