cash in on
phr. v..phr. v.. to take advantage of a situation to make money or get a benefit, often in a way that seems unfair.
phr. v.. to exploit a specific situation, trend, or event for personal gain, typically financial; often carries a pejorative connotation of opportunism.
Some companies try to cash in on the latest health trends.
The local shops are cashing in on the thousands of tourists visiting for the festival.
While the technology was originally intended for public safety, several private firms quickly moved to cash in on the lucrative data-mining opportunities it presented.
- Particles
- in on
- Separability
- inseparable
- Pattern
- cash + in + on + object
always followed by the situation or event being exploited.
contrast with 'take advantage of' which can be neutral; 'cash in on' almost always implies a selfish or purely commercial motive.
They cashed on the opportunity.They cashed in on the opportunity.both 'in' and 'on' are required to form this specific phrasal verb.