advantage

take advantage (of someone)

to use someone's weakness to improve your own situation. Mr. Smith often takes advantage of my friendship and leaves the unpleasant tasks for me to do.

See also: take

take advantage (of something)

to use an opportunity to get or achieve something. He took advantage of the prison's education program to earn a college degree. There are peaches and strawberries grown on the farm, and I sure take full advantage of them.

Usage notes: often said of someone who has opportunities that others do not have: The rich can take advantage of clever accounting tricks to avoid taxes.

See also: take

to advantage

in a way that helps you. We had to learn to use the landscape to advantage in combat. She chose a dress that would show her fine figure to advantage.