take advantage of

[ad-van-tij, -vahn-]

ad·van·tage

[ad-van-tij, -vahn-] noun, verb, ad·van·taged, ad·van·taging.
noun
1.
any state, circumstance, opportunity, or means specially favorable to success, interest, or any desired end: the advantage of a good education.
2.
benefit; gain; profit: It will be to his advantage to learn Chinese before going to China.
3.
superiority or ascendancy (often followed by over or of): His height gave him an advantage over his opponent.
4.
a position of superiority (often followed by over or of): their advantage in experienced players.
5.
Tennis. the first point scored after deuce.
verb (used with object)
6.
to be of service to; yield profit or gain to; benefit.
7.
to cause to advance; further; promote: Such action will advantage our cause.
8.
to prove beneficial to; profit: It would advantage him to work harder.

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Take advantage of is always a great word to know.
So is callithumpian. Does it mean:
a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes.
an arrangement of five objects, as trees, in a square or rectangle, one at each corner and one in the middle.
9.
have the advantage of, to be in a superior or advantageous position; possess an advantage over: By virtue of independent wealth, he has the advantage of his opponents.
10.
take advantage of,
a.
to make use of for gain: to take advantage of an opportunity.
b.
to impose upon, especially unfairly, as by exploiting a weakness: to take advantage of someone.
11.
to advantage, to good effect; advantageously: The paintings were arranged to advantage on one wall.

Origin:
1300–50; Middle English ava(u)ntage < Anglo-French, Old French avantage, equivalent to avant before (see advance) + -age -age; for ad- see advance


2. Advantage, benefit, profit all mean something that is of use or value. Advantage is anything that places one in an improved position, especially in coping with competition or difficulties: It is to one's advantage to have traveled widely. Benefit is anything that promotes the welfare or improves the state of a person or group: a benefit to society. Profit is any valuable, useful, or helpful gain: profit from trade or experience. 6. serve, avail, help, aid.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source Link To take advantage of
American Heritage
Idioms & Phrases

take advantage of

Put to good use; avail oneself of; also, profit selfishly by, exploit. For example, Let's take advantage of the good weather and go hiking, or They really take advantage of her good nature, getting her to do all the disagreeable chores. [Late 1300s]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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