MEANING
To act while conditions are favorable, before a useful opportunity passes.
Use it for
acting before an opportunity disappears; making use of favorable timing; responding while interest is strong; taking advantage of a brief openingLinks prompt action to a temporarily favorable opportunity. Writing functions: Acting at the right moment. Semantic categories (by meaning): Opportunity; Timing; Prompt action. Contexts: General conversation; Creative prose.
On the page
With both investors interested, the founders decided to strike while the iron was hot.
She sent the proposal that afternoon, striking while the iron was hot.
Word forms
- Base
- strike while the iron is hot
Usage notes
Inflect strike: strikes while the iron is hot; struck while the iron was hot; striking while the iron is hot. Adapt tense naturally. Register: neutral. Commonness: common (qualitative editorial estimate, informed by dictionaries/corpus).
Practice this word in a sentenceYour margin notes
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