Phrase guide

make hay

verb · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To cut grass to turn into hay for animal feed.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: literally

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To take advantage of an opportunity.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: figuratively

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

turn to one's advantage

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The environmentalist lobby made hay of the nuclear plant accident

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: exploit, work

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

19 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Faroese: hoyggja — to cut grass to turn into hay
  • Finnish: tehdä heinää — to cut grass to turn into hay
  • French: faner — to cut grass to turn into hay
  • French: faire les foins — to cut grass to turn into hay
  • German: Heu machen — to cut grass to turn into hay
  • Italian: far fieno — to cut grass to turn into hay
  • Polish: kosić trawę — to cut grass to turn into hay
  • Romansh: fanar — to cut grass to turn into hay
  • Romansh: far fain — to cut grass to turn into hay
  • Romansh: far fein — to cut grass to turn into hay
  • Romansh: far fagn — to cut grass to turn into hay
  • Romansh: fer cul fain — to cut grass to turn into hay
  • Romansh: far cun fain — to cut grass to turn into hay
  • German: profilieren — to take advantage of an opportunity
  • German: beweisen — to take advantage of an opportunity
  • German: hervortun — to take advantage of an opportunity
  • German: die Gelegenheit beim Schopf ergreifen — to take advantage of an opportunity
  • German: ausschlachten — to take advantage of an opportunity
  • Italian: fare cassa — to take advantage of an opportunity