GRAMMAR
〜をいいことに
taking advantage of
Explanation
NOTE
〜をいいことに means taking advantage of — someone uses a situation as an excuse to act badly.
親がいないのをいいことに、彼は遊んでばかりいた。
Taking advantage of his parents being away, he did nothing but play.
NOTE
It carries a critical tone. The speaker disapproves of someone exploiting a chance for selfish gain.
店員が新人なのをいいことに、客は無理な注文をした。
Taking advantage of the clerk being new, the customer made unreasonable demands.
The action that follows is something the speaker views negatively.
NOTE
Attach をいいことに after a noun with な or の, or after a plain-form verb or i-adjective.
STRUCTURE
N辞
なの/をいいことに休みなのをいいことに、彼は一日中寝ていた。
Yasumi na no o ii koto ni, kare wa ichinichijuu nete ita.
Taking advantage of it being a day off, he slept all day.
暗やみなのをいいことに、泥棒は家に入った。
Kurayami na no o ii koto ni, dorobou wa ie ni haitta.
Taking advantage of the darkness, the thief entered the house.
先生が留守なのをいいことに、生徒は騒いだ。
Sensei ga rusu na no o ii koto ni, seito wa sawaida.
Taking advantage of the teacher being out, the students made noise.
Practice exercises
1
休みなのをいいことに、弟は遊んでばかりいた。
Taking advantage of it being a holiday, my brother did nothing but play.
Answer
のをいいことに
2
夜なのをいいことに、彼らは大声で歌った。
Taking advantage of it being night, they sang loudly.
Answer
のをいいことに
3
母が留守なのをいいことに、妹は菓子を食べた。
Taking advantage of our mother being out, my sister ate the sweets.
Answer
のをいいことに
4
先生の不在をいいことに、授業をサボるはめになった。
Taking advantage of the teacher's absence, I ended up skipping class.
Answer
をいいことに
5
予算の増額をいいことに、不必要な設備を購入した。
Taking advantage of the budget increase, unnecessary equipment was purchased.
Answer
をいいことに
6
上司の出張をいいことに、仕事を怠け、納期に遅れるしまつだ。
Taking advantage of the boss's business trip, I neglected work, and ended up being late for the deadline.
Answer
をいいことに
7
担当者の入院をいいことに、その件は報告せずじまいだった。
Taking advantage of the person in charge's hospitalization, that matter ended up not being reported.
Answer
をいいことに
8
規制の緩和をいいことに、企業は配慮を怠った。
Taking advantage of deregulation, companies neglected consideration.
Answer
をいいことに