capitalize on

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Capitalize on \Cap"i*tal*ize on`\ (k[a^]p"[i^]*tal*[imac]z
   [o^]n`), v. t.
   To turn (an opportunity) to one's advantage; to take
   advantage of (a situation); to profit from; as, to capitalize
   on an opponent's mistakes.
   [PJC]

from Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0

33 Moby Thesaurus words for "capitalize on":
      benefit from, carpe diem, cash in, cash in on, clean up, clear,
      coin money, commercialize, exploit, gain by, gross, improve,
      improve the occasion, make a killing, make capital of, make hay,
      make money, make money by, net, not be behindhand, profit,
      profit by, put to advantage, realize, realize on, seize the day,
      take advantage of, trade on, turn a penny, turn to account,
      turn to profit, turn to use, use to advantage

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