Strike while the iron is hot origin

Meanings of “Strike While the Iron is Hot”

The proverb “strike while the iron is hot” means one should grab the opportunity as soon as it arises. It also means that one should take advantage of an opportunity before it slips away.

Origin of “Strike While the Iron is Hot”

The proverb “strike while the iron is hot” inspires an image of a blacksmith at his workshop.

He needs to shape the iron while it is hot, and if he delays, the metal cools down and he loses the opportunity. The proverb originated from The Excellent Comedie of Two the Moste Faithfullest Freendes, by Richard Edwards, where it is stated as, “I haue plied the Haruest, and stroke when the Yron was hotte.”

Since then, it has been used in the same sense except for spellings which have standardized with time.

Examples from Literature

Example #1

The Tale of Melibeus by Geoffrey Chaucer

“Up stirten thanne the yonge folk atones, and the mooste partie of that compaignye han scorned this olde wise
man, and bigonnen to make noyse, and seyden that
right so as whil that iren is hoot me

strike the iron while it is hot meaning in bengali

strike the iron while it is hot passive voice