to advantage
1
5.0
- idiom
:
a favor
- She arranged the furniture to advantage, making the room look larger and more inviting.
- used to advantage
Examples
-
The woman wore an orange tank top that showed to advantage her tanned, shapely shoulders.
Fiction book (1996) -
For creative work, both methods—with necessary control—may be used to advantage.
Academic text (1995) -
But using them more to advantage is probably a good idea.
-
This can be used to advantage in advocacy efforts.
Academic text (2009) -
There was a full moon, and I sat by the window because I thought it would show off my new nightie to advantage.
-
Dumont put on his best smile, the one that showed off his white teeth to advantage.
Fiction book (1992) -
As you recruit other warriors, you get to turn the different combinations of their unique abilities to advantage.
Blog text (23) -
While in many respects this comparison showed Canada to advantage, it was not as one-sided as my Canadian friends, few of whom regularly visited the States, would have expected.
Academic text (2003) -
In warm weather, he wore shirts open at the throat, sometimes T-shirts that showed to advantage his well-developed arm and shoulder muscles.
Fiction book (2002) -
The yellow muslin was demurely cut, with two-inch-wide white lace ruching about the neckline that set off her pale skin to advantage.
Fiction book (1991)
Synonyms
1
5.2
In a way that gives you a benefit or helps you succeed
1
4.1
In a way that helps and makes things better
Antonyms
Surface Forms
Morphology
to + advantage
The sense 'in a way that makes someone or something appear favorable' is compositionally built from 'advantage' (a favorable position) with 'to' forming an adverbial phrase meaning 'in a manner giving advantage'. Although the phrase is somewhat formal, the semantic connection is direct and a B1 learner who knows 'advantage' should be able to infer this meaning.
Etymology
To advantage gives a clear picture: imagine placing a painting in good light or moving furniture so it looks its best. The idea is giving something an advantage — a better place or light — so to advantage came to mean 'show in the best light'.