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Definition 2024

make_hay_while_the_sun_shines

make hay while the sun shines

English

Proverb

make hay while the sun shines

(idiomatic) To act while an opportunity exists; to take action while a situation is favorable.

Usage notes

In the imperative form this verb is used as a proverb.

Translations

act while an opportunity exists

Breton: pa'z eus avel eo gwentañ a zo d'ober (br)
Czech: kuj železo, dokud je žhavé (cs)
Dutch: het ijzer smeden als het heet is
Finnish: tao, kun rauta on kuumaa
Greek: στη βράση κολλάει το σίδερο ‎(sti vrási kolláei to sídero)
Hungarian: addig üsd a vasat, amíg meleg (hu)
Italian: batti il ferro finché è caldo

Japanese: 善は急げ ‎(ぜんはいそげ, zen-wa isoge)
Macedonian: железото се кове додека е жешко ‎(želézoto se kóve dódeka e žéško)
Portuguese: aproveite a maré
Russian: куй желе́зо, пока́ горячо́ ‎(kuj želézo, poká gorjačó)
Scottish Gaelic: buain am maorach nuair a tha an tràigh ann
Spanish: ahora que hay modo

See also

References

↑ “make hay while the sun shines”, The Phrase Finder, Gary Martin.

Gregory Y. Titelman, Random House Dictionary of Popular Proverbs and Sayings, 1996, ISBN 0-679-44554-4, p. 225.