# make a virtue of necessity

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/make-a-virtue-of-necessity
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To make the best of a difficult situation; to recast or portray an action or situation in which one has no alternatives as an action or situation which was deliberately chosen on its merits.

## Examples

- We had no car, so we made a virtue of necessity and walked.
- Since the flight was cancelled, we made a virtue of necessity and spent an extra day exploring the city.
- Faced with a limited budget, the architect made a virtue of necessity by using reclaimed materials to create a unique, modern aesthetic.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.