What does 'make hay while the sun shines' mean?

Answer 1

This phrase means to do thing at the most suitable occasions.

Don't procrastinate. If the sun is out make hay as in the next moment it is raining you won't be able to.

Do the job before things change and make it impossible for you to do it - don't procrastinate.

e.g. collect the fire wood before it starts snowing

It means "Get it done now, while you've got the chance - put it off, and the chance may not come again."

As everyone who lives near farmers knows, hay can only be cut and bound up into sheaves or bales when it is dry. If the hay is wet, it rots and can spontaneously combust. Therefore a dry sunny day is perfect for haying. The saying means that you should seize an opportunity when it presents itself, because if you wait, conditions may be less optimal. If you do not make hay when the sun shines, it may rain, and then you can't make hay at all.

This means to do something while you have the opportunity. It means to do something while you have the chance. Later on, the opportunity may no longer be there for you. Or put another way, work hard and don't procrastinate.

Answer

This phrase means to do thing at the most suitable occasions. I take it to mean "don't procrastinate." If the sun is out make hay as in the next moment it is raining you won't be able to (the sun is need to dry out the grass). Like if you feel like doing yard work later than sooner you might not get the chance later if something comes up be it rain or something else.

There are many steps to making hay, but the sun has to pretty much shine the entire time... you can't cut, tedder or bale wet hay... it will "go bad" as we like to say.

Or to me it means:

Get up and get your butt in gear. The sun is shining, and it won't last long.

Get to work!