expressions - Make something great out of a bad situation


I'm looking for an expression similar to "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade." This phrase means to make the best out of a bad situation. I am looking for a phrase for when someone did do something great out of a bad situation. I think it goes something like "Was given sh** and made < something wonderful >."


To add a few more details, the situation in particular I'm thinking of is a person who works for an organization that has not been doing well (financial troubles, staff turnover, lots of infighting). They have continually been doing excellent things despite the bad situation. However, they are not necessarily responsible for fixing the problems themselves (to say, the problems haven't been fixed yet) - they have just done a good job of working with/around them.



Answer




[She] knew how to make a gourmet meal out of leftovers.



An example, admittedly of the literal usage, can be found in 'Beyond Passing' By Elaine Galindo


The parallel form would be



She made a gourmet meal out of [mere] leftovers.



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