Strike while the iron is hot

1. Take advantage of favorable circumstances while they last. The image is from a blacksmith's shop; the smith can shape iron only by striking it with his hammer when it is red hot.

Idioms and Phrases

Take advantage of favorable conditions, as in They just made a huge profit, so let's strike while the iron is hot and ask for some money. This adage alludes to the blacksmith's forge. [Late 1300s] Also see make hay while the sun shines.

Example Sentences

"The US sees this as a moment to strike while the iron is hot. Our question is what are we trying to achieve here?"

From BBC

“There’s a consensus among the teams and the FIA and ourselves that now might be a good time to try and strike while the iron is hot and renew and extend the Concorde Agreement,” the CEO, Greg Maffei, said on the call.

From Seattle Times

“Why can’t we strike while the iron is hot,” she says her family members told her.

From Seattle Times

Once success comes, there can then be added pressure to keep the momentum going, book more jobs, be seen in the right places, and strike while the iron is hot.

From Seattle Times

So any and every opportunity you can to continue to strike while the iron is hot you should take.

From Washington Post