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turn to good account

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turn something to good account

to use something in such a way that it is to one's advantage; to make good use of a situation, experience, etc. Pam turned her illness to good account and did a lot of reading. Many people turn their retirement time to good account and take up interesting hobbies.

See also: account, good, turn

turn/use something to good account

  (formal)

to use something to produce good results She turned her natural curiosity to good account by becoming a detective.

See be in good books, It's no good crying over spilt milk, while the going is good, hold good, if knows what's good for, stand in good stead, throw good money after bad, You can't keep a good man down, What's sauce for the goose, be no good to man or beast, One good turn deserves another, good and proper

See also: account, good, turn

turn to good account

Use for one's benefit, as in He turned the delay to good account, using the time to finish correspondence. This idiom, first recorded in 1878, uses account in the sense of "a reckoning."

See also: account, good, turn