make a virtue of

USAGE SUMMARY

"make a virtue of" is a phrase that is used in written English.
It is an idiom that means to make something that may appear to be negative into something positive. Example sentence: "Rather than complaining about the extra work, she decided to make a virtue of it and use it as an opportunity to learn new skills."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

We make a virtue of freezing things".

The New York Times

So I attempted to make a virtue of this predicament.

Independent

Next, make a virtue of being a moderate conservative.

The New Yorker

They almost make a virtue of their fallibility.

Independent

The best course is to make a virtue of necessity.

The Economist

In fact, you could even make a virtue of it.

The Washington Post

But we can make a virtue of this absence.

The Guardian - Books

Gnarls still make a virtue of their originality, though.

The Guardian - Music

Music, perhaps paradoxically, can make a virtue of silence, too.

The Guardian

The best staples make a virtue of blandness.

The New Yorker

"So yes, I should make a virtue of my age".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "make a virtue of" when highlighting resilience, adaptability, or innovative problem-solving.

Common error

Avoid using "make a virtue of" when simply accepting a situation passively. The phrase implies active reframing and positive action, not mere resignation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "make a virtue of" functions as an idiomatic expression, used to describe the act of transforming a perceived weakness or necessity into a positive attribute or opportunity. Ludwig provides numerous examples demonstrating its application in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Formal & Business

20%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Science

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "make a virtue of" is a common and versatile idiom used to describe the act of transforming a potential negative into a positive. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and widely applicable across diverse contexts, including news, business, and academia. To wield this phrase effectively, ensure that the context demonstrates a genuine reframing, rather than mere acceptance. By understanding its nuances and avoiding common pitfalls, you can enrich your writing and highlight the power of resilience and adaptability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

make lemonade out of lemons

Idiomatic expression for making the best of a bad situation.

turn a bug into a feature

Specifically refers to transforming a defect into a desirable attribute.

put a positive spin on

Implies reinterpreting something negatively perceived.

turn to one's advantage

Highlights the conversion of something into a benefit.

capitalize on

Focuses more on exploiting the advantage rather than transforming a negative.

exploit to good effect

Suggests using something effectively, but doesn't necessarily imply overcoming a disadvantage.

leverage

Emphasizes using something to gain an advantage, often in a business context.

accentuate the positive

Focuses on highlighting the positive aspects, not necessarily changing a negative.

play up

Suggests emphasizing a particular aspect, often for marketing or persuasive purposes.

extol the virtues of

Focuses on praising the good qualities, without necessarily transforming something negative.

FAQs

How can I use "make a virtue of" in a sentence?

You can use "make a virtue of" to show how someone turns a disadvantage or necessity into something positive or beneficial. For example, "The company decided to "make a virtue of" their small budget by focusing on creative marketing strategies".

What's a simple way to explain the meaning of "make a virtue of"?

It means to take something that seems bad or unavoidable and find a way to turn it into a good or useful thing. It is similar to the expression 'making lemonade out of lemons'.

Are there situations where it's inappropriate to use "make a virtue of"?

Yes, it's inappropriate if the situation isn't genuinely being improved or positively reframed. If it's just a superficial attempt to disguise a negative, the phrase would be misused.

What are some alternatives to using "make a virtue of" in my writing?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "capitalize on", "turn to one's advantage", or "put a positive spin on".