Hacer su agosto
To make one's August.
to make a killing; **to make a killing**; **to cash in**; **to make a fortune**; **to strike it rich** (depending on the context); **to clean up** (informal)
Hacer su agosto means to make a lot of money, profit greatly or benefit enormously from a particular opportunity.
Los hoteles hacen su agosto en verano.
Hotels make a killing during the summer.
Con la subida del precio del gas, algunas empresas hicieron su agosto.
Some companies cashed in on the rise in gas prices.
Siempre hay quien hace su agosto durante las rebajas.
There's always someone who cleans up during the sales.
Ese vendedor hizo su agosto con el concierto.
That vendor made a fortune during the concert.
The expression often implies that the opportunity is temporary.
- earns unusually large profits
- takes advantage of a period of high demand
- benefits financially from a special situation
- exploits an opportunity successfully
- makes a fortune during a short period
The expression dates back to Spain's agricultural tradition.
August was the main harvest season, when farmers gathered the fruits of the year's work and earned much of their income.
As a result, hacer su agosto came to mean obtaining substantial profits whenever favourable circumstances arose, regardless of the time of year.
Today, the expression is used throughout the year.
The expression is often neutral, but it can sometimes suggest opportunism.
For example, when prices rise after an emergency, people may accuse certain businesses of hacer su agosto by taking advantage of the situation.
The context determines whether the tone is approving or critical.
Spanish has several idioms related to money and profit:
- Hacer su agosto → to make a killing.
- Forrarse → to become very rich.
- Rascarse el bolsillo → to fork out.
- Costar un ojo de la cara → to cost an arm and a leg.
Many of them originated in everyday economic life long before modern business existed.
Do not translate the expression literally.
English speakers would never say:
He made his August.
Instead, use expressions such as:
- He made a killing.
- She cashed in.
- They made a fortune.
- The company cleaned up.
The important idea is exceptional profit.
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