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to hit the jackpot

to hit the jackpot

24 4.0
To have a big, unexpected success because of luck
  • idiom
  • /hɪt ðə ˈdʒækpɒt/
translation icon : hacerse rico
  • Leigh Jasper and Robert Phillpot hit the jackpot when they created a global document management firm back in 2000.

And in most cases, you'd never hit the jackpot and you end up just losing more.

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Examples

  • And the reason I mention those names is because she hit the jackpot when she was introduced to Prince Harry.

  • Because you never know when you're gonna hit the jackpot.

  • And in most cases, you never hit the jackpot and you end up just losing more.

  • Buddy, you just hit the jackpot.

  • Oh, I hit the jackpot with that guy.

  • We just hit the jackpot.

  • I felt like I had hit the jackpot.

    Blog text (4)
  • When I hit the jackpot, I'll buy myself an awesome car.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • I think we've hit the jackpot.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • After years of hard work, she finally hit the jackpot and landed her dream job.

Synonyms

to luck out
vsto hit the jackpot
  • Informal
22 8.0

To do well by chance

focuses on large or notable success that comes from chance
to hit a home run
vsto hit the jackpot
  • Informal
17 3.4

To have a big success people do not expect

is used when that strong success happens unexpectedly because of luck
to hit it big
vsto hit the jackpot
  • Informal
9 5.1

To become very successful, often quickly

emphasizes that the success is large and usually also unexpected by chance
to hit pay dirt
vsto hit the jackpot
  • Informal
8 7.5

To find big success or money after trying hard

differs by stressing that success comes unexpectedly by chance rather than effort
to hit the big time
vsto hit the jackpot
  • Informal
7 4.5

To become very successful and famous in your work

can describe that rise when it occurs suddenly by luck
to hit one out of the ballpark
vsto hit the jackpot
  • Informal
1 7.4

Do much better than expected

means similar success but adds that it often comes through luck
to blow the doors off
vsto hit the jackpot
  • Informal
1 7.2

To do much better than people expect

is the same triumph when it happens through fortunate chance
to strike it lucky
vsto hit the jackpot
  • UK
5.7

To get unexpected good luck

is about a large unexpected success that happens by chance
to luck through
vsto hit the jackpot
  • UK
8.6

To succeed by chance without skill or planning

describes big success that is unexpected and owed to luck
to knock out of the box
vsto hit the jackpot
  • Informal
8.0

To impress many people by doing something very well

covers similar surprising success but highlights luck as the cause

Antonyms

898 1.0

Not succeed in doing something you wanted to do

How Lucky

to hit the jackpot
24 4.0
to luck out
  • Informal
22 8.0

Surface Forms

hit the jackpot infinitive
hit the jackpot past participle
hitting the jackpot present participle
hits the jackpot third person singular

Morphology

hit + the + jackpot

The phrase literally combines 'hit' (to strike or reach) with 'jackpot' (a large prize), so a learner who knows both words can readily infer 'to obtain a big win' and by extension 'have great or unexpected success'. This gambling-based, compositional metaphor is common and thus generally transparent to B1 learners familiar with the constituent meanings.

Etymology

Hit the jackpot comes from gambling. When someone hits the right combination on a slot machine and wins the large jackpot — a sudden pile of coins or a big prize — it shows a quick, lucky win, so the phrase now means 'to have great or unexpected success'.