strike while the iron is hot
Act without delay
To strike while the iron is hot is to act at the optimal moment, when conditions favor success.
The metaphor comes from blacksmithing—heated metal is malleable, but once it cools, the opportunity to shape it passes.
She got three callbacks in one week and decided to strike while the iron was hot.
- grasp the nettleFace a difficulty directly
- make hay while the sun shinesAct during favorable circumstances
- seize the dayEmbrace the present moment
- opportunityFavorable circumstance for advancement
- forgeFurnace for shaping metal
iron · timing · window · boldness · chance · blacksmithing · proactivity · readiness · tempering · anvil · hammering · momentum · initiative · action · decisiveness · hot iron · urgency · hot streak
- proverbsproverbs, sayings, maxims, adages, aphorisms
- time sayingstime flies, time is money, time heals all wounds, time will tell, carpe diem
strike while the iron is hotmiss the boat
Fail to seize opportunity
hesitate · procrastinate · drag one's feet · wait and see · bide your time
strike while the iron is hotpatience is a virtue
slow and steady wins the race · haste makes waste · all in good time · Rome wasn't built in a day · take your time
strike, strikes, stricken, striking, striker, strikers, whilst, ironing