capitalize on

CIDE DICTIONARY

capitalize on, v. t. 

 To turn (an opportunity) to one's advantage; to take advantage of (a situation); to profit from; as, to capitalize on an opponent's mistakes.  [PJC]

THESAURUS

capitalize on

benefit from, carpe diem, cash in, cash in on, clean up, clear, coin money, commercialize, exploit, gain by, gross, improve, improve the occasion, make a killing, make capital of, make hay, make money, make money by, net, not be behindhand, profit, profit by, put to advantage, realize, realize on, seize the day, take advantage of, trade on, turn a penny, turn to account, turn to profit, turn to use, use to advantage