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• Make hay while the sun shines
  Make hay while the sun shines

  Take advantage of favorable circumstances; they may not last.
• make hay while the sun shines
  make hay while the sun shines

  Take advantage of favorable circumstances, as in Car sales have finally improved so we're making hay while the sun shines. This expression alludes to optimum dry weather for cutting grass. [Early 1500s]

Make hay while the sun shines

Cultural  

1. Take advantage of favorable circumstances; they may not last.

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make hay while the sun shines Idioms  

1. Take advantage of favorable circumstances, as in Car sales have finally improved so we're making hay while the sun shines. This expression alludes to optimum dry weather for cutting grass. [Early 1500s]

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Example Sentences

That matters because successful investors make hay while the sun shines.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026

They say you should make hay while the sun shines, and farmers have been doing just that.

From BBC • Jul. 15, 2025

The old saying is - make hay while the sun shines.

From New York Times • Jan. 27, 2018

"Long may it last -- let's make hay while the sun shines," he laughed.

From Reuters • Jul. 1, 2015

All see that there must soon be a great change, and are anxious "to make hay while the sun shines."

From A Journey through the Kingdom of Oude, Volumes I & II by Sleeman, William