ride the wave
Exploit current success
To ride the wave is to take advantage of a favorable trend or momentum, especially one you didn't create: Tech companies rode the wave of pandemic-era remote work.
The image comes from surfing—catching a swell and letting it carry you forward.
The phrase often implies opportunism or timing rather than effort: She's just riding the wave of her viral moment.
- surfWaves near shore
- capitalizeMake a letter large
- trendDirection of change
- go viralSpread rapidly online
- sailShip's wind-catching fabric
momentum · exploit · make hay · strike while hot · zeitgeist · benefit · bandwagon · opportunity · advantage · thrive · go with the flow · stay afloat · leverage · harness · breaker · acclimate · persevere · foam
- sea idiomsall at sea, dead in the water, smooth sailing, sink or swim, miss the boat
- travel idiomshit the road, in the same boat, miss the boat, end of the road, crossroads
- trading slangbull, short, long, dip, pump
- momentumbuilding momentum, gain traction, gaining traction, gaining steam, gather steam
- adaptabilityadapt, flexibility, resilience, adaptability, pliability
- opportunitygolden opportunity, window of opportunity, opportunity knocks, once in a lifetime, golden chance
ride the wavebuck the trend
Act contrary to prevailing direction
go against the grain · swim upstream · push back · dig in one's heels · stand one's ground
ride the wavemiss the boat
Fail to seize opportunity
drop the ball · fight a losing battle · drag one's feet · hesitate · dither
ride the wavesink like a stone
Descend rapidly through water
drown · fall behind · stagnate · flounder · tread water
ride, wave, rides, rode, ridden, riding, rider, riders, waves