making hay while the sun shines
Exploiting favorable conditions
Making hay while the sun shines means taking advantage of favorable conditions while they last.
The phrase comes from the practical reality that hay must be cut and dried in good weather before rain can spoil it.
Extended to any situation where timing matters: She's making hay while the sun shines, landing clients before the recession hits.
The implication is that opportunity won't wait.
- summerYear's warmest season
- sunny dayBright, cloudless period
- fair weatherPleasant, dry climate
- opportunismExploiting circumstances for gain
- carpe diemGrasp the present moment
now or never · proactivity · harvest · seize · agriculture · timing · optimize · crop · preparedness · time is money · initiative · maximization · strike while the iron is hot · foresight · urgency · seasonality · farming · busy season
making hay while the sun shinesprocrastinating
Postponing what needs doing
missing the boat · letting the grass grow under one's feet · dragging one's feet · dithering · sitting on one's hands
making hay while the sun shinesslacking off
Neglecting responsibilities deliberately
loafing · idling · goofing off · lazing about · killing time
making hay while the sun shinesresting on one's laurels
Relying on past accomplishments
fiddling while Rome burns · killing the goose that lays the golden eggs · throwing caution to the wind · dropping the ball · asleep at the wheel