hit the jackpot
hit the jackpot
1. To win a large amount of money, especially in a lottery. Stop wasting your money on lottery tickets—it's not like you'll ever hit the jackpot.
2. To acquire or come into possession of something very beneficial or perfectly suited for one. Marcy hit the jackpot with her new job—it's basically her dream job, plus a huge salary. When it comes to boyfriends, Tina hit the jackpot—Dean is basically the perfect guy.
3. To find exactly what was sought or desired, especially in a large quantity. We needed poster board and hit the jackpot at the art supply store down the street.
See also: hit, jackpot
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
hit the jackpot
1. Lit. to win a large amount of money gambling or in a lottery. I hit the jackpot in the big contest. Sally hit the jackpot in the lottery.
2. Fig. to be exactly right; to find exactly what was sought. I hit the jackpot when I found this little cafe on Fourth Street. I wanted a small house with a fireplace, and I really hit the jackpot with this one.
See also: hit, jackpot
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
hit the jackpot
Be highly successful, especially unexpectedly; win, especially a lot of money. For example, She hit the jackpot at the auction; that platter turned out to be genuine Meissen. This term comes from a form of poker in which a hand can be opened only if one holds at least a pair of jacks (or higher). Often a number of hands must be dealt before anyone can open, and since players must put in money for each round, the jackpot, or total amount held, is apt to be quite large. [Early 1900s]
See also: hit, jackpot
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
hit the jackpot
COMMON
1. If you hit the jackpot with something, you have great success and earn a lot of money from it. The National Theatre hit the jackpot with its first musical, Guys And Dolls. The three actors hit the jackpot when they opened their restaurant in New York.
2. You can say that someone hits the jackpot when they succeed in getting or finding something which they have been searching for. I went through all the people called Lasalles in the Sydney phone book until I hit the jackpot. Note: This expression was originally used in poker (= a card game). A `jackpot' was a sum of money which increased until someone could start the betting with a pair of jacks or higher.
See also: hit, jackpot
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.
hit the jackpot
1 win a jackpot. 2 have great or unexpected success, especially in making a lot of money quickly. informalOriginally, in the late 19th century, jackpot was a term used in a form of poker, where the pot or pool accumulated until a player could open the betting with a pair of jacks or higher cards. It is now used of any large money prize that accumulates until it is won.
See also: hit, jackpot
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
hit the ˈjackpot
suddenly win, earn, etc. a lot of money; suddenly be very successful: She’s hit the jackpot with her latest book — it’s sold millions.See also: hit, jackpot
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
hit the jackpot
1. tv. to win a large amount of money. Sally hit the jackpot in the lottery.
2. tv. to be exactly right; to find exactly what was sought. I wanted a small house with a fireplace, and I really hit the jackpot with this one.
See also: hit, jackpot
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
hit the jackpot
To become highly and unexpectedly successful, especially to win a great deal of money.
See also: hit, jackpot
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
hit the jackpot, to
To win; to achieve a sensational success. The term comes from a form of draw poker in which a hand can be opened only if the declarer holds a pair of jacks (or higher cards). Since several rounds may be dealt before someone holds a hand good enough to open and the players must ante up (put in money) for each round, the pot, or total amount being held, called the jackpot, is likely to be larger than usual. Hence winning it constitutes a sizable gain, and the term, which originated in nineteenth-century America, soon was transferred to similar big winnings or successes.
See also: hit
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
- hit the jackpot, to
- jackpot
- (right) on the money
- a cash flow problem
- (you) can't take it with you (when you go)
- hit the big one
- never in a thousand years
- not/never in a hundred, etc. years
- share and share alike
- share and share alike, to