Definition

1. Verb (transitive):
   • To exploit or use someone or something unfairly for one's own benefit: This meaning emphasizes using a person's kindness, resources, or a situation in a selfish, often unethical, way.
   • To utilize an opportunity or favorable circumstance effectively: This meaning focuses on benefiting from a chance or condition in a positive or neutral way.

Usage Examples

• Verb (exploitative meaning):
  • It's not right to take advantage of her generosity.
  • The company was accused of taking advantage of vulnerable workers.
• Verb (opportunistic meaning):
  • You should take advantage of the sunny weather and go for a walk.
  • He took advantage of the quiet morning to finish his report.

Advanced Usage

• "to take advantage of someone's good nature": to exploit a person's inherent kindness.
  • He constantly takes advantage of his friend's good nature, always asking for favors.
• "to take full advantage of": to utilize an opportunity to the greatest possible extent.
  • We took full advantage of the hotel's amenities during our stay.

Variants and Related Words

• Advantageous (adj): involving or creating a favorable circumstance.
  • The new trade deal is advantageous for both countries.
• Advantage (n): a condition or circumstance that puts one in a favorable position.
  • His height is an advantage in basketball.

Synonyms

• Exploit: to use selfishly for one's own ends (for the negative sense).
• Capitalize on: to use to one's advantage (often for the positive sense).
• Utilize: to make practical use of (neutral).

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Cash in on: to profit from, often in a way perceived as opportunistic.
  • The author cashed in on the sudden popularity of the genre.
• Play on: to exploit a feeling or weakness.
  • The advertisement plays on people's fears of aging.

Related Idioms

• To have the advantage of: to be in a superior position due to a specific factor.
  • You have the advantage of me, as you know my name but I don't know yours.
• To turn something to one's advantage: to manage a situation so that it benefits you.
  • She turned the criticism to her advantage by using it to improve her project.

Verb

1. make excessive use of
   • You are taking advantage of my good will!
   • She is trespassing upon my privacy
2. draw advantages from
   • he is capitalizing on her mistake
   • she took advantage of his absence to meet her lover