seize the day

English

Etymology

Calque of Latin carpe diem.

Pronunciation

• Audio (AU):

  (file)

Verb

seize the day

1. (idiomatic) To enjoy the present and not worry about the future; to live for the moment.
2. (idiomatic) To make the most of today by achieving fulfillment in a philosophical or spiritual sense.
3. (idiomatic) To attack the day's efforts with vigor and purpose.

Usage notes

• Often used in a hortatory manner and in the imperative mood: Seize the day!

Synonyms

• (live for the moment): carpe diem, gather rosebuds

Translations

enjoy the present

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 花開堪折直須折／花开堪折直须折 (huā kāi kān zhé zhí xū zhé), 花开堪折直须折 (huā kāi kān zhé zhí xū zhé)

• Dutch: pluk de dag
• Finnish: tartu hetkeen
• French: cueillir le jour, carpe diem (fr)
• German: nutze den Tag
• Hungarian: élj a mának
• Icelandic: gríptu daginn
• Italian: cogliere l'attimo
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Latin: carpe diem
• Norwegian: gripe dagen
• Polish: chwytaj dzień
• Portuguese: carpe diem
• Russian: лови́ моме́нт (loví momént)
• Spanish: aprovecha el día
• Swedish: fånga dagen (sv)
• Turkish: günü yakala

See also

• stop and smell the roses
• yesterday is gone