fare tesoro

Italian

Etymology

Literally, “to make treasure”.

Verb

fàre tesoro (first-person singular present fàccio tesoro, first-person singular past historic féci tesoro, past participle fàtto tesoro, first-person singular imperfect facévo tesoro, second-person singular imperative fài tesoro or fà' tesoro, auxiliary avére) [with di]

1. to treasure

   Synonyms: custodire, apprezzare

   intendo fare tesoro di una ragazza come lei

   I want to treasure a girlfriend like her

2. to capitalize (on)

   Synonyms: capitalizzare, sfruttare, trarre vantaggio

   • 2020, Barack Obama, chapter 11, in Chicca Galli, Paolo Lucca, Giuseppe Maugeri, transl., Una terra promessa [A Promised Land], Garzanti Libri:

     McConnell e Boehner avevano fatto tesoro di queste lezioni.

     Such lessons weren't lost on McConnell and Boehner.

     (literally, “McConnell and Boehner had capitalized on this lessons.”)