make the best of

USAGE SUMMARY

'make the best of' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express the idea of making the most of a difficult or unpleasant situation. For example: "Even though he's stuck inside all day, he's trying to make the best of it and get a lot of work done."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But we make the best of it".

The New York Times - Sports

We'll make the best of it.

The New York Times - Sports

They make the best of themselves".

The New York Times

"Let's make the best of it".

The New Yorker

She will make the best of it.

The Guardian - Books

We must make the best of things.

The Guardian

Yet they make the best of their situation.

Independent

Life is too long to "make the best of it".

The New York Times

Countries will make the best of their circumstances.

The Economist

You've got to make the best of it".

The Guardian

The bid tries to make the best of the weather.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When facing adversity, use "make the best of" to encourage a proactive and positive approach to the situation. It shows resilience and resourcefulness.

Common error

Don't use "make the best of" as an excuse for inaction. It's not about passively accepting circumstances, but actively working to improve them.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "make the best of" functions as an idiomatic expression used to encourage resilience and a positive approach when facing unfavorable circumstances. As Ludwig AI confirms, it signifies an effort to utilize available resources effectively despite limitations.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

8%

Reference

7%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "make the best of" is a versatile and widely used expression that encourages a positive and proactive approach to challenging situations. According to Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and readily usable in written English. It appears frequently in news and media, as well as in everyday conversations, and implies a resilient and resourceful mindset. When using "make the best of", remember that it is about taking action to improve circumstances, not simply accepting them passively. Alternatives like "make the most of" or "capitalize on" can offer slightly different nuances depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

make the most of

Focuses on maximizing the positive aspects of a situation.

take full advantage of

Emphasizes exploiting opportunities within a situation.

capitalize on

Highlights turning a situation into an advantage.

make good use of

Stresses the efficient and effective utilization of resources.

turn lemons into lemonade

Suggests transforming a negative situation into something positive and beneficial.

grin and bear it

Focuses on enduring a difficult situation with a positive attitude.

look on the bright side

Highlights focusing on the positive aspects of a situation.

make a virtue of necessity

Involves finding a positive aspect in something unavoidable.

play the hand you're dealt

Emphasizes accepting circumstances and acting accordingly.

accept and adapt

Stresses the importance of acknowledging the situation and adjusting accordingly.

FAQs

How can I use "make the best of" in a sentence?

You can use "make the best of" to describe how someone is trying to improve a bad situation, for example: "Even though the weather was terrible, they tried to "make the best of it" and have fun."

What phrases are similar to "make the best of"?

Similar phrases include "make the most of", "take full advantage of", and "capitalize on". These all suggest maximizing the positive aspects of a situation.

Is it better to "make the best of" or "make the most of" a situation?

Both "make the best of" and "make the most of" are correct and often interchangeable. However, "make the best of" often implies dealing with a difficult situation, while "make the most of" suggests maximizing a good opportunity.

When is it inappropriate to use "make the best of"?

It may be inappropriate to use "make the best of" when the situation is deeply serious or tragic, and suggesting someone should simply accept it could be insensitive. In such cases, empathy and support are more suitable responses.