advantage of him

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "advantage of him" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the benefits or favorable circumstances that someone has in relation to another person. Example: "She took full advantage of him during the negotiations, ensuring she got the best deal possible."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"If word got out that this guy beat him out of this money then other people would try and take advantage of him". Jackie was in too deep.

HuffPost

People take advantage of him".

The New Yorker

Was I taking advantage of him?

The New York Times - Tech

Lowlifes have taken advantage of him.

The New Yorker

How dare they take advantage of him!

The New Yorker

That we took advantage of him?

The New York Times - Sports

He's not going to let someone take advantage of him.

The New York Times - Sports

He felt that Lorraine had taken advantage of him.

The Washington Post

Parry believed someone "could easily take advantage of him".

The Guardian

"He's back too far, and they're taking advantage of him.

The New York Times - Sports

… Someone had taken advantage of him and had brainwashed him".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "advantage of him", consider the ethical implications. Ensure the context doesn't suggest exploitation or unfair treatment.

Common error

Avoid using "advantage of him" when you simply mean someone benefited from his help or presence. The phrase often implies exploitation or unfair play. For example, instead of saying "She gained an advantage of him by his advice", consider "She benefited from his advice".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "advantage of him" functions as a prepositional phrase, typically used as an object of a verb. It indicates the act of leveraging someone's position, weakness, or generosity for personal gain. Ludwig provides numerous examples illustrating this usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Academia

17%

Science

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "advantage of him" is a common expression used to describe situations where someone unfairly benefits from another person's vulnerabilities or position. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and frequently encountered in various contexts, especially in "News & Media". While it can be used neutrally to describe a situation, it often carries a negative connotation suggesting exploitation. When writing, be mindful of this implication and consider alternatives like "benefit from him" or "make use of him" if you wish to avoid this negative connotation. Always evaluate the ethical dimensions of exploiting someone else's situation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

use him to one's advantage

Highlights the instrumental use of the person.

exploit his weakness

Directly refers to taking advantage of a vulnerability.

take advantage of his generosity

Specifies the trait being exploited.

milk him

Suggests extracting everything possible from someone, often negatively.

exploit him

Focuses on using someone for personal gain, often unfairly.

benefit from his naivete

Highlights benefiting specifically from someone's lack of experience or knowledge.

capitalize on him

Highlights turning someone's attributes or situation into an advantage.

profit from him

Emphasizes gaining a benefit, often monetary, from someone.

leverage his position

Focuses on using his status or role for benefit.

make the most of him

Implies utilizing his abilities or resources fully.

FAQs

How can I use "advantage of him" in a sentence?

You can use "advantage of him" to describe a situation where someone benefits unfairly from another person's weakness, naivety, or position. For example, "The con artist took "advantage of him" by exploiting his trust".

What does it mean to take "advantage of him"?

To take "advantage of him" means to unfairly benefit from someone's vulnerability, generosity, or position, often implying a degree of manipulation or exploitation.

Are there more neutral ways to say someone benefited from him?

Yes, you can use phrases like "benefited from his assistance", "gained from his knowledge", or "profited from his experience" if you want to avoid the negative connotation associated with taking "advantage of him".

Is it always negative to say someone took "advantage of him"?

Generally, yes. The phrase usually carries a negative connotation, suggesting unfairness or exploitation. However, in very specific contexts, it might simply mean someone strategically used his resources, but this is rare.