make hay while the sun shines
To take advantage of good conditions while they last
직역: Cut and dry grass to make animal feed while the sun is out and shining.
Use this to encourage someone to take immediate advantage of a temporary, favorable situation.
15초 만에
- Act now while conditions are perfect.
- Don't waste a temporary advantage.
- Seize the moment before luck changes.
뜻
Imagine you have a perfect opportunity right now that might disappear soon. This phrase means you should act immediately to get the best results while conditions are still in your favor.
주요 예문
3 / 6Talking about a business boom
Orders are flooding in this month, so let's make hay while the sun shines.
Orders are flooding in this month, so let's take advantage of this while it lasts.
A rare sunny day in London
It's finally sunny! Let's go to the park and make hay while the sun shines.
It's finally sunny! Let's enjoy it while we can.
Texting a friend about a sale
That 80% off sale ends at midnight. Better make hay while the sun shines!
That sale ends soon. You should buy now while the price is low!
문화적 배경
Originating from the 16th century, this phrase reflects the vital importance of agriculture in English history. In a climate as rainy as Britain's, a sunny day was a high-stakes deadline for survival. Today, it remains a staple of the 'Protestant work ethic,' emphasizing diligence and foresight.
Shorten it for impact
In modern offices, people often just say 'Let's make some hay.' Everyone knows the rest of the phrase!
Don't sound greedy
Be careful using this if the 'good condition' is someone else's misfortune. It can make you sound like a vulture.
15초 만에
- Act now while conditions are perfect.
- Don't waste a temporary advantage.
- Seize the moment before luck changes.
What It Means
Think of this as the ultimate 'carpe diem' for busy people. It is about timing. If you have a chance to succeed, do it now. Don't wait for tomorrow. Tomorrow might be rainy, literal or metaphorical. You are seizing a fleeting moment of luck or productivity.
How To Use It
You usually use it as a piece of advice. It works as a full sentence or a clause. You can say, We should make hay while the sun shines. It sounds proactive and smart. It shows you understand that good times do not last forever. Use it when you see a window of opportunity opening up.
When To Use It
Use it when business is booming unexpectedly. Use it when you have a rare day of high energy. It is perfect for a sunny Saturday when you have chores. If your boss is in a great mood, ask for that raise! You are making hay while the sun shines. It fits perfectly in professional strategy meetings too.
When NOT To Use It
Avoid using this during a tragedy or a sensitive crisis. It can sound a bit cold or overly opportunistic then. Do not use it if someone is grieving. It is about productivity, not exploitation. Also, do not use it for long-term, slow-burning projects. It is specifically for temporary 'sunny' periods. If the sun is always shining, the phrase loses its punch.
Cultural Background
This idiom comes from medieval English farming life. Farmers had to dry grass to feed animals in winter. If the hay got wet from rain, it would rot. They had no weather apps back then! They had to work like crazy the moment the sun came out. It first appeared in writing around the 1500s. It represents the old British obsession with unpredictable weather.
Common Variations
You might hear people just say, Strike while the iron is hot. That is the blacksmith version of this farm phrase. Sometimes people shorten it to just Making hay. For example, The market is up, so we are making hay. It implies you are currently cashing in on a good situation.
사용 참고사항
This idiom is very versatile and sits in the 'neutral' register. It is safe for the office, home, and casual social settings without sounding too stiff or too slangy.
Shorten it for impact
In modern offices, people often just say 'Let's make some hay.' Everyone knows the rest of the phrase!
Don't sound greedy
Be careful using this if the 'good condition' is someone else's misfortune. It can make you sound like a vulture.
The British Weather Factor
This phrase is so popular because in England, the sun actually stops shining very quickly. It's an idiom born from genuine weather anxiety!
예시
6Orders are flooding in this month, so let's make hay while the sun shines.
Orders are flooding in this month, so let's take advantage of this while it lasts.
Focuses on maximizing profit during a peak period.
It's finally sunny! Let's go to the park and make hay while the sun shines.
It's finally sunny! Let's enjoy it while we can.
A literal and figurative use of the phrase.
That 80% off sale ends at midnight. Better make hay while the sun shines!
That sale ends soon. You should buy now while the price is low!
Used to encourage quick action on a deal.
Our rivals are distracted by their merger; we need to make hay while the sun shines.
Our rivals are busy; we should take this chance to win their customers.
Strategic use in a competitive environment.
Both kids are napping at the same time! I'm going to make hay while the sun shines and take a shower.
Both kids are asleep! I'm taking this rare chance to shower.
Humorous take on a 'favorable condition' for parents.
You have the funding now, so make hay while the sun shines and finish your research.
You have the money now, so use this opportunity to finish your work.
Encouraging someone to use resources before they run out.
셀프 테스트
Choose the best word to complete the idiom.
The stock market is doing great this week, so we should make ___ while the sun shines.
The standard idiom always uses `hay` regardless of the actual context (like money or work).
Identify the correct meaning in this context.
When the boss is away, the team decides to 'make hay while the sun shines' by finishing their reports early. This means they are:
They are taking advantage of the 'favorable condition' of a quiet office.
🎉 점수: /2
시각 학습 자료
Formality Scale of 'Make Hay While the Sun Shines'
Used with friends about small opportunities.
Let's go out while I have cash!
Perfect for general advice or workplace motivation.
We should make hay while the sun shines.
Slightly too idiomatic for a legal document, but okay for a speech.
The company must make hay while the sun shines.
When to Make Hay
Business
A sudden market trend
Personal Life
A rare free weekend
Shopping
A limited-time flash sale
Social
Meeting a VIP at a party
자주 묻는 질문
10 질문Not at all! You can use it for anything temporary, like enjoying a rare warm day or using a coupon before it expires.
It's very similar, but Carpe Diem (Seize the Day) is more philosophical. Make hay while the sun shines feels more practical and work-oriented.
Yes, it is perfectly acceptable in a professional email to motivate a team or suggest a strategy.
Not exactly, but if you don't do it, people might say you 'missed the boat' or 'let the opportunity slip through your fingers.'
Usually, yes. However, in business, you might hear people say they are 'making hay' to mean they are being very productive during a good period.
It represents your goals, profits, or results. The 'sun' represents the perfect conditions needed to achieve them.
It is an old phrase, but it is still very common. It doesn't sound 'ancient'—it sounds like a classic piece of wisdom.
No, that wouldn't make sense because you need the heat of the sun to dry the grass! Stick to the original.
Yes, it is widely used in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia.
A common mistake is saying make the hay. We usually don't use the word the before hay in this idiom.
관련 표현
Strike while the iron is hot
Seize the day
Take time by the forelock
Gather ye rosebuds while ye may
Strike while the opportunity presents itself
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