# milking

/ˈmɪɫkɪŋ/ (US) · /mˈɪlkɪŋ/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/milking
Updated: 2026-05-07

## Definition

to try to get as much money, help, or attention as possible from a situation. You use this when someone is taking advantage of something for too long.

For teachers: to exploit a situation or a person's feelings to obtain the maximum possible benefit or advantage. Often carries a negative connotation of greed or dishonesty.

## Examples

- He is milking his injury to get extra time off work.
- The actor is still milking his one famous role from twenty years ago to get free meals at restaurants.
- While the initial success of the product was genuine, the company is now accused of milking the brand by releasing low-quality sequels that offer no real innovation.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He is milking from the situation" but "He is milking the situation" — Milking is transitive in this sense; it does not require the preposition 'from' before the object.

## Usage notes

- The verb is transitive and typically takes a direct object representing the source of the benefit.

---

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.