make a virtue of necessity

make a virtue of necessity
to pretend that you are doing something because you have chosen to do it and because it will bring you benefits, when in fact it is something that you must do

English dictionary. 2014.

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  • make a virtue of necessity — To do as if from a sense of duty (or with a sense of duty called in for the occasion) something unpleasant one is forced to do • • • Main Entry: ↑virtue * * * make a virtue of necessity phrase to pretend that you are doing something because you… …   Useful english dictionary

  • make a virtue of necessity — {v. phr.} Make the best of things as they are; do cheerfully what you do. * /After Mr. Wilson lost all his money, he made a virtue of necessity and found a new and interesting life as a teacher./ Compare: MAKE THE BEST OF …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • make a virtue of necessity — {v. phr.} Make the best of things as they are; do cheerfully what you do. * /After Mr. Wilson lost all his money, he made a virtue of necessity and found a new and interesting life as a teacher./ Compare: MAKE THE BEST OF …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • make a virtue of necessity —    If someone does something commendable, not deliberately but because they have no choice, and pretends to be doing it willingly and happily, they make a virtue of necessity.     When, because of the high price of petrol, I decided to walk to… …   English Idioms & idiomatic expressions

  • make a virtue of necessity — Meaning Origin From Shakespeare s Two Gentlemen of Verona. Second Outlaw Indeed, because you are a banish d man, Therefore, above the rest, we parley to you: Are you content to be our general? To make a virtue of necessity And live, as we do, in… …   Meaning and origin of phrases

  • make a virtue of necessity — formal to change something you must do into a positive or useful experience. It s a long way to drive so I thought I d make a virtue of necessity and stop off at some interesting places along the way …   New idioms dictionary

  • make\ a\ virtue\ of\ necessity — v. phr. Make the best of things as they are; do cheerfully what you do. After Mr. Wilson lost all his money, he made a virtue of necessity and found a new and interesting life as a teacher. Compare: make the best of …   Словарь американских идиом

  • make a virtue of necessity — make a duty into something attractive, make responsibility appear desirable …   English contemporary dictionary

  • make a virtue of necessity — verb To make the best of a difficult situation; to recast or portray an action or situation in which one has no alternatives as an action or situation which was deliberately chosen on its merits. Indeed, because you are a banishd man …   Wiktionary

  • make a virtue of necessity — idi to make the best of a difficult or unsatisfactory situation …   From formal English to slang

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