• to take time by the forelock
• to push an advantage, to push the advantage
• to improve the situation, to make the best of sg, to make the most of sg, to take advantage of the situation
• to embrace the opportunity, to improve the occasion, to improve the opportunity, to make use of the occasion, to profit of an opportunity, to take advantage of the opportunity, to use one's opportunities
• to pick sy's brains, to suck sy's brains
• to press one's advantage
• to play on sy's credulity, to play upon sy's credulity