What it means
To make hay means to grab the chance while it's still warm and worth something. It's what you say when the timing's good, the window's open, and hanging about would be plain daft. Move now, cash in now, because luck doesn't stand there waiting with a polite smile.
Usage examples
"The pound is strong this month, so importers are making hay before the rate inevitably swings back."
"The rivals are off injured, so we should make hay and take the lead now."
"Tourists are flooding in this summer, the cafe is making hay while it can."
"We've gone viral off that one clip, so let's make hay and drop the merch this week."
"If they're offering overtime at double pay, I'm making hay till that budget dries up."
Where it comes from
It comes from the farming saying make hay while the sun shines. Hay had to be cut and dried in dry weather, so when the sun was out, you got on with it fast. The shorter make hay kept that same punchy idea of using the good moment before it slips off.
