Definition

1. Noun:
   • The process of cutting grass and curing it to make hay: This refers to the agricultural activity of mowing, drying, and gathering grass or other plants to produce hay for animal fodder.
   • The act of taking full advantage of an opportunity while it lasts: This figurative sense means to energetically and effectively exploit a favorable situation for maximum benefit.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Agricultural sense):

  • The sunny weather was perfect for haymaking.
  • During haymaking season, the fields are busy with activity.

• Noun (Figurative sense):

  • The company's aggressive marketing campaign was pure haymaking, capitalizing on the sudden trend.
  • He saw his rival's mistake as a chance for some political haymaking.

Advanced Usage

• "To make hay while the sun shines": This is the common idiom from which the figurative meaning of 'haymaking' is derived. It explicitly means to take advantage of favorable conditions.
  • The farmers know they must make hay while the sun shines, and so do investors when the market is good.

Variants and Related Words

• Haymaker (noun): This has two distinct meanings. 1) A person or machine that makes hay. 2) (Informal) A powerful, sweeping punch.
• Hay (noun): Grass, clover, alfalfa, etc., cut and dried for use as fodder.

Synonyms

• Harvesting (for the agricultural sense).
• Capitalizing, Exploiting, Cashing in (for the figurative sense).

Related Idioms

• "Make hay while the sun shines": As noted above, this is the core idiom. 'Haymaking' in its figurative sense encapsulates the action described by this proverb.
  • With the product going viral, the team worked overtime to make hay while the sun shone.

Noun

1. cutting grass and curing it to make hay
2. taking full advantage of an opportunity while it lasts