〜を逆手にとって

Originally a wrestling term: you take the opponent's own hold and use it against him. It is used when criticism, a weakness, a rule or an attack aimed at someone is cleverly converted into a weapon or benefit for that person. The tone is one of admiring someone's shrewdness; common in journalism, business talk and commentary. Note the reading さかて and that the object is normally something negative directed at the subject.

• 彼は自分の小ささを逆手にとって、素早い動きで勝った。

  かれはじぶんのちいささをさかてにとって、すばやいうごきでかった。

  He turned his small size to his advantage and won with quick movements.

• その企業は批判を逆手にとって、新商品の宣伝に利用した。

  そのきぎょうはひはんをさかてにとって、しんしょうひんのせんでんにりようした。

  The company turned the criticism around and used it to promote its new product.

• 規制の抜け穴を逆手にとった商法が問題になっている。

  きせいのぬけあなをさかてにとったしょうほうがもんだいになっている。

  Business practices that exploit loopholes in the regulations have become a problem.