Idiom
Take advantage of
What does 'take advantage of' mean?
'Take advantage of' means either to use a useful opportunity or to exploit a person unfairly. For example, 'We took advantage of the quiet afternoon to finish the report.' Use the object to identify the meaning: resources and offers are usually positive, while people or their weaknesses usually suggest criticism.
Key points
- The expression has positive and negative meanings.
- Resources, discounts and offers usually create a positive meaning.
- A human object usually suggests unfair exploitation.
- Use bare 'advantage' before the preposition 'of'.
Can you use "Take advantage of" yourself?
This lesson has 5 stages. You can stop at any time and continue later.
Stage 1 of 5
Understand
What it means, when to use it, and mistakes to avoid.
The full explanation
To take advantage of something means to make good use of a favorable condition or opportunity. To take advantage of someone means to treat a person unfairly or use their weakness for selfish gain.
Our team took advantage of an empty conference room to plan the project.
Why it works: The empty room was an available resource, so the phrase describes practical use rather than unfair behavior.
2 more examples
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A reliable manager will never take advantage of an employee who fears speaking up.
The human object and power difference signal unfair exploitation.
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You should take advantage of our morning workshop while seats remain open.
The workshop is a helpful opportunity offered to participants.
Read the full guide
Spotting the positive opportunity meaning
When you see an offer, a discount, good weather, or extra time, this expression describes making smart use of the circumstance. English speakers choose this phrase when an opening exists and they want to act before it ends. The focus stays entirely on good timing and practical resourcefulness rather than any form of harm.
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We should take advantage of an early lunch hour to run our errands.
Why it works: An early lunch hour gives useful time without inconveniencing anyone.
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Local families took advantage of sunny weather by walking in the city park.
Why it works: The weather provided an ideal natural condition for outdoor activity.
Your turn
Which sentence shows the positive meaning of taking advantage of a situation?
Answer: Elena took advantage of an empty quiet office to review the financial report.
Show the answer
Answer: Elena took advantage of an empty quiet office to review the financial report.
Elena uses a peaceful workspace constructively, which matches the positive opportunity sense without causing harm.
Identifying unfair treatment or exploitation
When a person, a weakness, or a generous trait comes after the preposition, the phrase takes on a negative meaning. It shows that someone is behaving selfishly by using another person's kindness, inexperience, or silence. Listeners hear this as a clear moral criticism of the person doing the taking.
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A careless roommate might take advantage of your willingness to wash dishes.
Why it works: Using someone's helpful nature unfairly creates resentment.
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The contractor took advantage of an elderly homeowner by doubling the agreed price.
Why it works: The action exploits vulnerability for personal profit.
This also comes up in The upper hand and One-off.
Your turn
Why does saying 'He took advantage of Maria' sound critical?
Answer: It means he treated Maria unfairly for his own personal gain.
Show the answer
Answer: It means he treated Maria unfairly for his own personal gain.
Placing a person directly after the expression indicates selfish exploitation rather than cooperation.
Checking what follows the preposition
The fastest way to understand the speaker's intention is to examine the noun phrase after the word of. If the noun names an inanimate asset, such as lower fares, extra study hours, or training programs, the sentence is helpful and neutral. If the noun names a human being, a personal favor, or someone's trusting nature, the statement expresses disapproval.
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Commuters take advantage of cheap bus fares during off-peak morning hours.
Why it works: Cheap fares are a public benefit open to all riders.
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Do not take advantage of someone who cannot easily refuse your request.
Why it works: A person in a weak bargaining position deserves fair treatment.
Your turn
Which object creates a neutral or positive meaning for the phrase?
Answer: a temporary discount on annual train passes
Show the answer
Answer: a temporary discount on annual train passes
Financial savings and promotional offers are inanimate opportunities meant for beneficial use.
Keeping the fixed three-word phrase
Learners often make mistakes by inserting the article the before the noun advantage or replacing of with from. This idiom is a fixed combination of three words: the verb take, the bare noun advantage, and the preposition of. Inserting extra words or changing the preposition breaks the natural rhythm of English speech.
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New residents take advantage of free language classes at the community center.
Why it works: The phrase uses bare advantage without any definite or indefinite article.
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You can take advantage of our library catalog without paying any registration fee.
Why it works: The preposition of connects the phrase smoothly to the resource.
Your turn
Which sentence uses the correct fixed phrase structure?
Answer: You should take advantage of this free training session.
Show the answer
Answer: You should take advantage of this free training session.
The fixed idiom requires take advantage of without articles before advantage and with of as the preposition.
Changing the verb for tense and time
While advantage and of remain unchanged, the verb take must adjust to match the grammar of your sentence. Use took for completed events in the past, takes for third-person present habits, and taking after continuous auxiliary verbs or prepositions. Forgetting to conjugate the verb is one of the most common errors for intermediate learners.
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Yesterday we took advantage of an open table near the window.
Why it works: Took indicates a completed past event.
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She is taking advantage of evening computer courses while working full time.
Why it works: Taking combines with is to show an ongoing present activity.
Your turn
Which option correctly completes the sentence about yesterday? 'Yesterday morning, our team ________ an open workspace.'
Answer: took advantage of
Show the answer
Answer: took advantage of
A past time marker like yesterday requires the simple past form took.
Contrasting practical benefit with duty
Taking advantage of an opportunity is optional and serves personal or team benefit. In contrast, standard workplace obligations and required assignments do not belong with this idiom. If you must attend a mandatory safety seminar, you attend it or complete it; you do not say you take advantage of it unless you are focusing on an optional perk inside the session.
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Employees can take advantage of wellness stipends to buy gym equipment.
Why it works: The stipend is an optional benefit provided by the employer.
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Staff members must submit their quarterly expense sheets before Friday afternoon.
Why it works: Mandatory paperwork is an obligation, not an opportunity you choose to exploit.
Your turn
Which situation is best described using 'take advantage of'?
Answer: Using a free shuttle bus provided by your hotel to reach the museum
Show the answer
Answer: Using a free shuttle bus provided by your hotel to reach the museum
The shuttle bus is an optional, beneficial service that saves you money and effort.
Hearing connected speech and weak forms
In natural speech, native speakers rarely pronounce each word in isolation. The second syllable of advantage carries primary stress, while the first vowel reduces toward a neutral schwa sound. Furthermore, the final sound of advantage links smoothly into the unstressed preposition of, which often sounds like a quick weak form. Paying attention to these links helps you catch the phrase in fast conversations.
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You can take advantage of our audio guides near the front gallery.
Why it works: The sounds link together as take-ad-VAN-tij-uv without a pause.
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We should take advantage of every sunny morning before winter arrives.
Why it works: The preposition connects directly into the vowel sound of every.
Your turn
Which syllable in the phrase 'take advantage of' carries primary stress?
Answer: The second syllable of advantage
Show the answer
Answer: The second syllable of advantage
The word advantage is stressed on its second syllable (-van-), while neighboring vowels reduce.
Choosing clear workplace phrasing
Because this expression carries two contrasting meanings, careless writing can create unintended confusion. If you write that your organization wants to take advantage of partner companies, clients might read it as selfish exploitation. In professional emails, name the specific program, data, or joint resource to make your constructive intent obvious to every reader.
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We want to take advantage of our partner company's regional delivery network.
Why it works: Specifying the delivery network clarifies that the collaboration is professional and beneficial.
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Our office took advantage of shared research findings to update our policy.
Why it works: Targeting the research findings avoids any ambiguous suggestion of exploiting people.
Your turn
How can you prevent a professional message from sounding exploitative?
Answer: Name the specific asset or resource rather than naming only the people.
Show the answer
Answer: Name the specific asset or resource rather than naming only the people.
Specifying the concrete resource clarifies that you are using a legitimate opportunity rather than exploiting partners.
Other meanings of "take advantage of"
This lesson practises one meaning. You may also hear these.
To exploit someone or their weakness unfairly for personal gain.
The seller took advantage of her inexperience.
Common mistakes with "take advantage of"
What learners often say, what to say instead, and why.
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Not this:
We took the advantage of the quiet afternoon.Say: We took advantage of the quiet afternoon.
The fixed idiom uses bare 'advantage', without an article.
-
Not this:
She took advantage from the free software.Say: She took advantage of the free software.
The fixed expression requires the preposition 'of', not 'from'.
-
Not this:
Yesterday, they take advantage of the empty meeting room.Say: Yesterday, they took advantage of the empty meeting room.
The past time marker requires the past form 'took'.
Use it naturally
How people really use “take advantage of”
Neutral Fine almost anywhere, at work or with friends.
Words it often goes with
- take advantage of an opportunityYou can take advantage of an opportunity to practice with a visiting speaker.
- take advantage of good weatherWe should take advantage of good weather to paint the fence.
- take advantage of someone's kindnessIt is unfair to take advantage of someone's kindness by constantly asking for favors.
What people also say
- “take advantage of the offer” instead of “make utilization of the offer” This sounds natural when you mean accepting an offer that benefits you.
A stronger way to say it
treat someone unfairly for your own benefit → exploit someone
Some employers exploit workers who are afraid to complain.
Questions about "Take advantage of"
Can I say 'take an advantage of' or 'take the advantage of'?
No. The expression is a fixed idiom where advantage appears without articles. Saying take an advantage or take the advantage sounds unnatural to English speakers. Always keep the bare noun advantage directly after the verb take.
You should take advantage of our free trial period.
How do I know if the phrase sounds rude or insulting?
Look at the object after the preposition of. If the object is a resource, discount, sunny day, or educational program, the sentence is encouraging and positive. When the object is a human being or their personal kindness, the phrase almost always expresses strong disapproval of unfair behavior.
They took advantage of low interest rates to purchase an apartment.
He took advantage of my trust when I lent him money.
What is the difference between 'take advantage of' and 'make use of'?
Make use of is completely neutral and simply means to utilize something functional, such as equipment or space. Take advantage of emphasizes an opportunity that might expire, a special benefit, or an unfair imbalance between people.
The technician made use of a spare cable to finish the repair.
We took advantage of an early opening to avoid long lines.
Can I use this expression in the passive voice?
Yes, especially when describing someone who has experienced unfair treatment. You can say someone was taken advantage of by an unscrupulous seller or employer. Notice that the preposition of stays at the end of the verb group.
Several junior workers felt they were taken advantage of during the busy holiday season.
Before you go
Remember this
Use take advantage of with circumstances and offers to describe practical choices, and reserve the personal object pattern for unfair exploitation. Keep the phrase intact without adding articles before advantage, and conjugate the verb take accurately for time.
Stage 2 of 5
Listen
Hear it in real sentences, from short to long, and write what you hear.
0 of 4 done
Listening 1 of 4
Listen, then type what you hear. Replay as often as you need.
0:00
- A reliable manager will never take advantage of an employee who fears speaking up.
- You should take advantage of our morning workshop while seats remain open.
Read the transcript
Always take advantage of our free language lab.
The speaker encourages students to use an available learning resource.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- listen for "uv": "of" is short and unstressed between "advantage" and "our."
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- listen for "uv": "of" is short and unstressed between "advantage" and "our."
Listening 2 of 4
Listen, then type what you hear. Replay as often as you need.
0:00
- A reliable manager will never take advantage of an employee who fears speaking up.
- You should take advantage of our morning workshop while seats remain open.
Read the transcript
We took advantage of an early bus service.
Took indicates a completed past choice to use a convenient morning schedule.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- listen for "too-kadvantage": the final sound of "took" joins the start of "advantage."
- listen for "o-fan": "of an" flows together without a pause.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- listen for "too-kadvantage": the final sound of "took" joins the start of "advantage."
- listen for "o-fan": "of an" flows together without a pause.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- listen for "too-kadvantage": the final sound of "took" joins the start of "advantage."
- listen for "o-fan": "of an" flows together without a pause.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
Try a longer clip. Listen once, then replay the part you missed.
Listening 3 of 4
Listen, then type what you hear. Replay as often as you need.
0:00
- A reliable manager will never take advantage of an employee who fears speaking up.
- You should take advantage of our morning workshop while seats remain open.
Read the transcript
Visitors can take advantage of our audio tour to see every room, or they can simply stroll along our scenic garden path.
The host suggests a helpful optional service for visitors.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- listen for "ou-raudio": the final sound of "our" joins the start of "audio."
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- listen for "ou-raudio": the final sound of "our" joins the start of "audio."
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- listen for "ou-raudio": the final sound of "our" joins the start of "audio."
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
This clip is longer. Follow the instruction above the answer field.
Listening 4 of 4
Listen, then type the missing words. The rest of the text is already there.
0:00
- A reliable manager will never take advantage of an employee who fears speaking up.
- You should take advantage of our morning workshop while seats remain open.
Read the transcript
During our summer term, college researchers can take advantage of our digital archive to review rare manuscripts. Staff members scan original papers each morning, so scholars from all regions can examine fragile records without traveling across Europe. Please register online if you wish to reserve a viewing station.
The librarian highlights a valuable research facility open to scholars.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
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Save my progressStage 3 of 5
Speak
Say it with the speaker, then use it in your own answer.
Shadow
Say it along with the speaker
Always take advantage of our free language lab.
Play the line slowly, then speak at the same time as the speaker. Copy the rhythm, not just the words.
Your turn
Say it your way
Speak for 30 to 60 seconds from memory about a beach vacation with a friend. Explain how you used a sunny morning well and how you kept your friend from paying more than a fair share of the costs.
Use: took advantage of take advantage of
Think for ten seconds, then answer out loud for as long as the task above asks, without looking at the lesson. Nothing is sent unless you ask for feedback.
0:00
Hear how someone else might say it
On our beach vacation, we took advantage of a sunny morning to go swimming before the clouds arrived. My friend offered to pay for lunch and rent an umbrella because she had more money available. I appreciated that, but I didn't want to take advantage of her generosity. We agreed that she would pay for the umbrella and I would buy lunch. Later, we walked along the shore, which cost nothing. We both enjoyed the day, and neither of us felt that the arrangement was unfair.
Try once more and answer this: What did you do when the weather changed?
Stage 4 of 5
Write
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Write
Put it in your own words
- I used “take advantage of”.
- It is about my life, not the lesson’s example.
- I read it once aloud to check it sounds right.
Write your own response
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