seize on/upon

seize on/upon
take eager advantage of (something); exploit for one's own purposes

the government has eagerly seized on the evidence to deny any link between deprivation and crime

* * *

seize on/upon [phrasal verb]
seize on/upon (something) : to take or use (something, such as a chance or opportunity) in a quick and eager way

His critics have seized on the scandal to call for his resignation.

She seized on the opportunity to tell her side of the story.

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Main Entry: ↑seize

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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  • seize on/upon — take eager advantage of. → seize …   English new terms dictionary

  • seize — W3 [si:z] v [T] [Date: 1200 1300; : Old French; Origin: saisir to take possession of , from Medieval Latin sacire] 1.) to take hold of something suddenly and violently = ↑grab ▪ Suddenly he seized my hand. seize sth from sb ▪ Maggie sei …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • seize — [ siz ] verb transitive ** 1. ) to take something using official power and force: CONFISCATE: Customs officials have seized 100 pounds of cocaine. Action was taken to seize criminal assets valued at $200 million. a ) to take control of a place or …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • seize upon something — ˈseize on/upon sth derived to suddenly show a lot of interest in sth, especially because you can use it to your advantage Syn: pounce on/upon • The rumours were eagerly seized upon by the local press. • Peter seized on her last comment …   Useful english dictionary

  • seize on something — ˈseize on/upon sth derived to suddenly show a lot of interest in sth, especially because you can use it to your advantage Syn: pounce on/upon • The rumours were eagerly seized upon by the local press. • Peter seized on her last comment …   Useful english dictionary

  • seize — ► VERB 1) take hold of suddenly and forcibly. 2) take forcible possession of. 3) (of the police or another authority) take possession of by warrant or legal right. 4) take (an opportunity) eagerly and decisively. 5) (seize on/upon) take eager… …   English terms dictionary

  • seize upon — phrasal verb seize on or seize upon [transitive, often passive] Word forms seize on : present tense I/you/we/they seize on he/she/it seizes on present participle seizing on past tense seized on past participle seized on seize on/upon something to …   English dictionary

  • seize — v. (d; intr.) to seize on, upon (to seize upon a chance remark) * * * [siːz] upon (to seize upon a chance remark) (d; intr.) to seize on …   Combinatory dictionary

  • seize on — phrasal verb seize on or seize upon [transitive, often passive] Word forms seize on : present tense I/you/we/they seize on he/she/it seizes on present participle seizing on past tense seized on past participle seized on seize on/upon something to …   English dictionary

  • seize — verb 1》 take hold of suddenly and forcibly.     ↘take forcible possession of.     ↘(of the police or another authority) take possession of by warrant or legal right. 2》 take (an opportunity) eagerly and decisively.     ↘(seize on/upon) take eager …   English new terms dictionary

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