hit the jackpot
hit the jackpot (idiom, metaphor)
/hɪt ðə ˈdʒækpɑt/
Meanings
- To have great or unexpected success or luck.
- To find or obtain something extremely valuable or beneficial.
- To win a large amount of money, especially in gambling or a lottery (literal).
Synonyms: strike it rich; hit it big; hit the big time; strike gold; make a killing; hit pay dirt; clean up; score big; luck out; win big.
Example Sentences
- After launching her online shop, she hit the jackpot when a celebrity endorsed her products.
- When he discovered a rare coin in his attic, he really hit the jackpot.
- He pulled the lever on the slot machine and actually hit the jackpot, winning the top cash prize. (literal)
Origin and History
The phrase “hit the jackpot” traces its roots to the game of poker in the late nineteenth century, where the noun “jackpot” referred to a special type of pot in draw poker. In this variant, players were required to hold at least a pair of jacks to open the betting; if no one qualified, the stakes carried over to the next hand, creating an ever-increasing pool of money. This system of accumulation turned the game into a pursuit of high reward, combining patience, risk, and chance. The term “jackpot” thus came to symbolize a growing prize awaiting the right opportunity to be claimed, laying the foundation for the idiomatic expression that would later emerge.
Extension to Slot Machines and Broader Usage
As gambling practices evolved in the early twentieth century, the “jackpot” migrated from poker tables to mechanical slot machines. These devices accumulated unclaimed winnings until a player’s winning combination released the entire pool, a moment vividly described as “hitting the jackpot.” The action of pulling the lever and triggering a sudden cascade of coins reinforced the phrase’s imagery of instant fortune. By the mid-twentieth century, this literal sense had broadened metaphorically, and “hit the jackpot” began to signify any unexpected success—whether striking a lucrative business deal, achieving fame, or discovering a rare opportunity. The phrase’s rise mirrored the cultural appeal of sudden prosperity in an age defined by ambition and mobility.
Emergence in American Culture
The idiom originated in the United States, emerging from the lively poker parlors and saloons of the post-Civil War American West. Its association with games of chance reflected the spirit of risk and reward that characterized frontier enterprise, gold rush speculation, and early industrial ventures. The expression resonated deeply with American ideals of self-made success, encapsulating the belief that fortune could change in a single decisive moment. Over time, “hit the jackpot” came to represent not only luck but also the broader cultural optimism surrounding opportunity and upward mobility.
Earliest Printed Record
The earliest known printed record of the full phrase “hit the jackpot” dates to the early 1910s in American newspapers, where it appeared in reports describing gambling and business success. The noun “jack-pot,” however, predates this usage by several decades. Its first recorded appearance occurs in an 1865 American publication, where it was used in the context of draw poker:
“A, B, C, and D are playing draw poker. It’s a jack pot.”
This quotation marks the earliest known mention of the term in print and provides clear evidence of its American origin. From this early technical reference, the expression evolved steadily, becoming figurative by the 1930s—as shown in a 1938 magazine commentary that noted”
“The firm has hit the jackpot with its new line of products.”
This moment signaled the phrase’s complete transition from gambling jargon to a universal metaphor for success.
Variants
- strike it rich
- hit it big
- strike gold
- make a killing
- hit pay dirt
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