'Make Hay While the Sun Shines'
2020-08-23
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1And now, Words and Their Stories from VOA Learning English!
2When the sun shines brightly, it provides a great chance to get outdoor things done.
3Like making hay! At least, that is what farmers from the past would say.
4"Make hay while the sun shines."
5This idiom is very old, dating back to Medieval times.
6Rain would often ruin the process of making hay.
7So, farmers had no choice but to make hay when the sun was shining.
8Today, we all use this expression, not just farmers.
9When conditions are perfect to get something done, we can say, "It's a good idea to make hay while the sun shines."
10In other words, you are taking advantage of a good situation or of good conditions.
11You are making the most of your opportunities.
12These all mean "making hay while the sun shines."
13Now listen while I use this expression with my friend Bryan.
14Say, when is your husband coming home?
15Not for another two weeks.
16That's a long time! How are you spending your time alone?
17I am finally getting some home improvement projects done.
18You know, moving some furniture, painting some rooms, cleaning closets ...
19That's a lot of work for one person.
20Why don't you wait for your husband to come home?
21No way! It's easier to do it by myself. I'm getting everything done that I can't do with other people around.
22Good idea. 'Make hay while the sun shines.'
23Exactly!
24And sometimes we use this expression to mean we beat someone to the punch, or we got ahead of someone else.
25And other times you make hay while the sun shines to make good use of the chance to do something while it lasts.
26You are being opportunistic - taking advantage of a good opportunity.
27For example, my friend Ozzy was sick for a week and could not go to work.
28So, his co-worker Sarah -- who doesn't like him -- took advantage of his illness and stole his project!
29Talk about making hay while the sun shines.
30Sometimes when you make hay while the sun shines you are staying ahead of a problem - like in this example:
31Hey, do you want to go hiking with me and my friends this weekend? The weather is going to be beautiful!
32I wish I could. But I have to finish my taxes.
33It's the last weekend before they're due.
34Oh, that's too bad.
35Wait. What about your taxes?
36My taxes are done. I was off from work a couple of weeks ago and made hay while the sun shined. I got all of it done!
37I wish I would have taken advantage of my time off last week.
38All I did was lay around the house.
39You should know that sometimes we only use parts of this expression.
40You might hear someone simply say they were "making a little hay." The meaning is still there, even if all the words aren't.
41And that's all the time we have for this Words and Their Stories.
42But join us again next week. You can listen while you're making dinner or riding to work.
43Yeah, make hay while the sun shines. Learn more English expressions with VOA Learning English!
44Until next time ... I'm Anna Matteo.
45And I'm Bryan Lynn.
1And now, Words and Their Stories from VOA Learning English! 2When the sun shines brightly, it provides a great chance to get outdoor things done. Like making hay! At least, that is what farmers from the past would say. 3"Make hay while the sun shines." 4This idiom is very old, dating back to Medieval times. Rain would often ruin the process of making hay. So, farmers had no choice but to make hay when the sun was shining. 5Today, we all use this expression, not just farmers. When conditions are perfect to get something done, we can say, "It's a good idea to make hay while the sun shines." 6In other words, you are taking advantage of a good situation or of good conditions. You are making the most of your opportunities. These all mean "making hay while the sun shines." 7Now listen while I use this expression with my friend Bryan. 8Say, when is your husband coming home? 9Not for another two weeks. 10That's a long time! How are you spending your time alone? 11I am finally getting some home improvement projects done. You know, moving some furniture, painting some rooms, cleaning closets ... 12That's a lot of work for one person. Why don't you wait for your husband to come home? 13No way! It's easier to do it by myself. I'm getting everything done that I can't do with other people around. 14Good idea. 'Make hay while the sun shines.' 15Exactly! 16And sometimes we use this expression to mean we beat someone to the punch, or we got ahead of someone else. 17And other times you make hay while the sun shines to make good use of the chance to do something while it lasts. You are being opportunistic - taking advantage of a good opportunity. 18For example, my friend Ozzy was sick for a week and could not go to work. So, his co-worker Sarah -- who doesn't like him -- took advantage of his illness and stole his project! Talk about making hay while the sun shines. 19Sometimes when you make hay while the sun shines you are staying ahead of a problem - like in this example: 20Hey, do you want to go hiking with me and my friends this weekend? The weather is going to be beautiful! 21I wish I could. But I have to finish my taxes. It's the last weekend before they're due. 22Oh, that's too bad. 23Wait. What about your taxes? 24My taxes are done. I was off from work a couple of weeks ago and made hay while the sun shined. I got all of it done! 25I wish I would have taken advantage of my time off last week. All I did was lay around the house. 26You should know that sometimes we only use parts of this expression. You might hear someone simply say they were "making a little hay." The meaning is still there, even if all the words aren't. 27And that's all the time we have for this Words and Their Stories. But join us again next week. You can listen while you're making dinner or riding to work. 28Yeah, make hay while the sun shines. Learn more English expressions with VOA Learning English! 29Until next time ... I'm Anna Matteo. 30And I'm Bryan Lynn. 31Anna Matteo wrote this story for VOA Learning English. Bryan Lynn was the editor. The song at the is Jessica Andrews singing "There's More to Me Than You." 32________________________________________________________________ 33Words in This Story 34idiom - n. an expression that cannot be understood from the meanings of its separate words but that has a separate meaning of its own 35medieval - adj. of or relating to the Middle Ages : of or relating to the period of European history from about A.D. 500 to about 1500 36taking advantage of (something) - phrase to use a situation or opportunity to get what you want 37opportunity - n. a favorable combination of circumstances, time, and place