Make Hay While the Sun Shines

Make hay while the sun shines means take advantage of good conditions or opportunities while they last. It is widely used in the South today, but it did not originate in Southern or Appalachian speech.

#Southernish

Hillbilly Dude Says...

I think I've only heard 'make hay while the sun shines' on television shows.

Hillbilly Dude Says...

I think I've only heard 'make hay while the sun shines' on television shows.

Pronunciation

[make HAY while the sun SHYNZ]
/meɪk heɪ waɪl ðə sʌn ʃaɪnz/

Meaning & Usage

- Act while conditions are good (proverb)

Ruby:

Think we should start on that fence?

Cal:

Yep-make hay while the sun shines.

- Use a brief opportunity before it disappears

Darla:

The boss is in a good mood for once.

Trent:

Well then, make hay while the sun shines and ask for what you need.

★ If someone drops this proverb in conversation, they’re nudgin’ you to quit waitin’ around and get crackin’ while the moment’s right. ★

Origin

This expression dates back to medieval England and appears in 16th-century British proverb collections and agricultural advice. Its literal meaning-cut and dry hay while the weather is clear-was practical farming wisdom long before it crossed the Atlantic.

In the American South, the phrase flourished because it matches rural life and Southern values: resourcefulness, timing, and not lettin’ daylight go to waste. Still, the saying itself is not Southern in origin.

Verdict: Southernish - sounds at home in the South, but born in old British farm wisdom.

Notes

Common in rural communities, especially agricultural areas.
Used to encourage initiative, timeliness, or seizing a window of opportunity.
Heard across all English-speaking regions-not a Southern invention.
Its earthy farm imagery makes it feel naturally Southern even though it isn’t.

Common Questions

Is this originally a Southern saying?

No. It comes from medieval British proverb tradition.

Why do Southerners say it so often?

It fits rural life and Southern values about actin’ while the moment’s right.

Is the phrase still used literally?

Sometimes in farming circles, but mostly it’s figurative now.

What’s a shorter version?

Many folks simply say, "Make hay."

How to Cite This Page

APA (7th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, November 27). Make Hay While the Sun Shines. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/southernish/make-hay-while-the-sun-shines
MLA (9th edition)
"The Hillbilly Dude." "Make Hay While the Sun Shines." HillbillySlang.com, 27 Nov. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/southernish/make-hay-while-the-sun-shines.
Chicago (17th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. "Make Hay While the Sun Shines." HillbillySlang.com. November 27, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/southernish/make-hay-while-the-sun-shines.