take advantage of someone

take advantage of (someone or something)

1. To utilize or avail oneself of something to the fullest possible extent. We're took advantage of the downturn in real estate sales to get a good deal on a house. You should take advantage of the hotel's gym and pool while we're here.
2. To exploit someone or something for one's own purpose, gain, or agenda. It's unfortunately very common for elderly people to fall prey to online scam artists who take advantage of their lack of technological know-how. Advertisers try to take advantage of our basic need to feel included in a group, making us feel that we're somehow missing out if we aren't buying what they're selling.
3. To coerce someone into a sexual interaction who is incapable of giving full or proper consent. That scumbag always tries to take advantage of the women who've had a few drinks at the holiday party. The coach was sentenced for taking advantage of one of the girls on his team.
See also: advantage, of, take

take advantage of someone

COMMON If someone takes advantage of you, they treat you unfairly for their own benefit, especially when you are trying to be kind or to help them. She took advantage of him even after they were divorced. `I hope Simon's paying you for this,' she said. `Don't let him take advantage of you.'
See also: advantage, of, someone, take
References in periodicals archive ?
Males were more likely to take advantage of someone sexually (p [less than or equal to] .
Consistent with past research (Berkowitz, 1992), this study demonstrated that men were significantly more likely to take advantage of someone sexually after heavy episodic drinking and women were more likely to be taken advantage of after heavy episodic drinking.
The relationships between heavy episodic drinking, sexual assaulting and being sexually assaulted for Southern Urban University students
Idioms browser ?
Full browser ?