turn to good account

Idioms  

1. Use for one's benefit, as in He turned the delay to good account, using the time to finish correspondence. This idiom, first recorded in 1878, uses account in the sense of “a reckoning.”

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Example Sentences

There is no capacity of our nature, no element of human society which the gospel of Christ cannot sanctify and turn to good account.

From Project Gutenberg

Mentally, too, was he no less improved, and the process by which that desirable state of things had come about was, in his own words, that his ups and downs had knocked all the nonsense out of him, and prepared him to appreciate and turn to good account his luck when it came.

From Project Gutenberg

Even their failures when rightly interpreted, may turn to good account.

From Project Gutenberg

To turn to good account this peculiarity of disposition, Massoni now addressed himself zealously and actively.

From Project Gutenberg

In a word, his is a false position, which no events nor accidents of fortune can turn to good account, and he must rest satisfied with a life of isolation and estrangement.

From Project Gutenberg