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Glite Dictionary
to strike while the iron is hot

to strike while the iron is hot

3 4.7
Do something quickly to use a good chance before it ends
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : hay que aprovechar la oportunidad
  • If you see a great job opening, strike while the iron is hot and apply immediately.

So the take out take away is I wish we would have hot shot it up here and struck while the iron was hot.

Examples

Synonyms

to seize the opportunity
vsto strike while the iron is hot
10 3.9

Act quickly to use a good chance

is the idiomatic expression for acting fast while chance remains
to take time by the forelock
vsto strike while the iron is hot
  • Archaic
9.9

Act quickly to grab an opportunity before it is lost

is about acting fast for a short advantage rather than hesitating
to snatch the opportunity
vsto strike while the iron is hot
3.9

To take a chance quickly before other people do

emphasizes quick action to use brief chances rather than delay
to jump on the offer
vsto strike while the iron is hot
3.5

To accept an offer or chance quickly before someone else does

is about acting fast to use short opportunities rather than waiting
to bounce on
vsto strike while the iron is hot
  • Informal
7.2

Act quickly to take an opportunity before others do

means to act fast to gain benefit while a situation allows
to run, don't walk
vsto strike while the iron is hot
  • Informal
7.1

To hurry to do something so you do not miss a good chance

is used as a strong prompt to act quickly for a brief chance
while the sun is shining
vsto strike while the iron is hot
5.3

Use a good chance before it ends

is about acting quickly while favourable conditions or chances last
to play it for all it's worth
vsto strike while the iron is hot
  • Informal
7.5

Use a chance as much as possible to get the most from it

focuses on fast action to exploit short advantages rather than full use

Antonyms

to miss an opportunity
14 2.8

Fail to use a chance to do something you want

How Quickly

to strike while the iron is hot
  • Informal
3 4.7
to hurry
∞ 1.0
to delay
562 1.4
to hesitate
318 2.5

Surface Forms

strike while the iron is hot infinitive
striking while the iron is hot present participle
strikes while the iron is hot third person singular
struck while the iron is hot past
struck while the iron is hot past participle

Morphology

strike + while + the + iron + be + hot

The expression maps a literal, easily-imagined scenario (hit iron when it is hot) onto the abstract idea of taking action while conditions are favorable, so learners who know the words can often infer the intended meaning. However, the pragmatic leap from a metalworking image to the abstract notion of seizing an opportunity requires cultural/figurative interpretation, so it is not fully predictable from the constituents alone.

Etymology

Strike while the iron is hot comes from old blacksmiths who had to strike the heated iron with a hammer while it was hot, because once it cooled it was too hard to shape. So the phrase means 'act quickly to take advantage' of a good chance.