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hit pay dirt

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hit pay dirt

 

1. Fig. to discover something of value. (Alludes to discovering valuable ore.) Sally tried a number of different jobs until she hit pay dirt. I tried to borrow money from a lot of different people. They all said no. Then when I went to the bank, I hit pay dirt.

2. Fig. to get great riches. After years of poverty, the writer hit pay dirt with his third novel. Jane's doing well. She really hit pay dirt with her new business.

See also: dirt, hit, pay

hit pay dirt

also strike pay dirt

to succeed He hit pay dirt with his next movie, which grossed $270 million worldwide.

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of pay dirt (dirt that contains valuable metals)

See also: dirt, hit, pay

hit/strike pay dirt

  (American & Australian)

to achieve or discover something important or valuable She finally hit pay dirt with her third novel which quickly became a best seller.

See also: dirt, hit, pay

hit pay dirt

and strike pay dirt

1. tv. to discover something of value. When we opened the last trunk, we knew we had hit pay dirt.

2. tv. to get to the basic facts of something. When we figured out the code, we really struck pay dirt.

See also: dirt, hit, pay