seize the opportunity

present singular third person seizes the opportunity · participle present seizing the opportunity · participle past seized the opportunity · past seized the opportunity

1. idiomaticTo immediately seize a particular opportunity.

   1898, Jason E. Hammond, “Work and Reward” in Suggestive Programs for Special Day Exercises, Lansing, Michigan: Department of Public Instruction for District Schools, p. ,

   5 more examples

   Grenville seized the opportunity to declaim on the repeal of the stamp act.

   1834–1874, George Bancroft, History of the United States, from the Discovery of the American Continent, volume (please specify |volume=I to X), Boston, Mass.: Little, Brown and Company [et al.], →OCLC

   The “lazies” of the party seized the opportunity of remaining behind—wandering, as they said, though all the cross paths were marked.

   1874, David Livingstone, chapter 7, in The Last Journals of David Livingstone in Central Africa, from 1865 to his death, volume I, London: John Murray, page 159

   At length the daughters of respectable people feared to walk along the roads or on the gháts. If one was seen alone, the devoted Hindustani Durwans followed, calling out "Ma Thakurani," and, preventing them from bathing, brought a palki. Many of those who were not accustomed to travel in a palki seized the opportunity of doing so free of expense.

   1884, Miriam S. Knight, The Poison Tree

   The little girls appeared, looking fresh and cool in pretty pink cottons, and we two elder ones seized the opportunity of making a more elaborate toilette than usual.

   1887, Harriet W. Daly, Digging, Squatting, and Pioneering Life in the Northern Territory of South Australia, page 34

   Two days were thus wasted in the quarrel between the consuls. It was clear that while Faminius was present no decision could be arrived at. Owing to Flaminius' absence through illness, Aemilius seized the opportunity to move a resolution which the senate adopted. Its purport was that the Ambracians should have all their property restored to them; they should be free to live under their own laws; they should impose such harbour dues and other imposts by land and sea as they desired, provided that the Romans and their Italian allies were exempt.

   1905, Livy, translated by Canon Roberts, From the Founding of the City, Book 38

   Synonyms: jump at the chance, jump at the opportunity