Make the best/ most of something

When someone makes the best/most of any situation, they take a less than satisfactory circumstance and try to make it positive, productive, worthwhile, beneficial, fun etc.

1. History has proven that often it is not worthwhile for some countries to host the soccer World Cup. In a couple of months, Brazil will host this "prestigious" event. It is the general consensus that Brazil has overstepped its budget, and in the bigger picture, will not benefit from the event as people had hoped. Of course, it would be unthinkable for Brazil to cancel the event - so what we have to do is make the best of it and salvage what we can. It is still a fantastic opportunity for Brazil to showcase itself to the world, and host the nations like no other country can.

2. When there's nothing you can do to reverse or change a mishap, an accident or any unfortunate event, we often say "It's no use crying over spilled milk." If you can think of any decision you've made that has not turned out the way you expected and that can't be undone, you have to move forward and make the best of it (perhaps by learning from your mistakes). 

3. Are you making the best of your life? I'm sure that life is not exactly the way you want it to be just yet, but are you making the most of what life has given you? Here is a fitting expression: "If life hands you a lemon, make a lemonade."

4. When someone is dealt a bad hand (given a bad set of cards) in a poker game, they can still make the best of the game and bluff their way through it... and end up winning. Do you think you have been "dealt a bad hand in life”? Is there anything you can do about it?

5. The other day I arrived at the bank 30 minutes before opening time. I really felt like leaving and coming back later, but I decided to stay and make the best of it while preparing some English class material on my cell phone in Evernote. Those 30 minutes flew by very quickly. Also, I was one of the first people to be served!

6. How could you make the best of a rainy day? Are there certain activities that are best done on a rainy day?

7. Are you an opportunist? Are you able to find something positive in trying (difficult) circumstances and make the most of it?

8. If you are a perfectionist or an "all-or-nothing" type of person, you may not try to make the most of  a less than perfect situation. Do you sometimes give up too early?

9. I admire handicapped athletes who compete in sporting events, despite their disabilities. They make the best of their situation and push their bodies to the limits, performing even better than people who are not even handicapped.

10. I am a beginner squash player. Often when I play against students of mine, and they are leading by more than 10 points, I still try to make the most out of every service and learn as much as I can in the process. I never get lazy, even when I am behind 5 points to 20.