TO IMPROVE THE OCCASION, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To make the most of a chance.
1860. DICKENS, The Uncommercial Traveller, ii. This serene avoidance of the least attempt to ‘IMPROVE’ AN OCCASION which might be supposed to have sunk of its own weight into my heart.
1865. G. MACDONALD, Alec Forbes of Howglen, lxii. The faces of the congregation wore an expectant look, for they knew Mr. Turnbull would IMPROVE THE OCCASION.
1867. A. TROLLOPE, Claverings, xliv. He IMPROVED THE OCCASION by telling those around him that they should so live as to be ever ready for the hand of death.
1860. E. A. FREEMAN, The History of the Norman Conquest of England, III., xii. 159. His next thought was how to IMPROVE THE OCCASION.
1883. G. A. S[ALA], in Illustrated London News, 27 Oct., 395, 2. I am obliged to ‘Nominis Umbra’ for his information; but I IMPROVE THE OCCASION by observing that I am resolved for the future not to take the slightest notice of anonymous communications.
