hit the jackpot

1. 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]

Example Sentences

Schneider hit the jackpot in the lottery of life with that sleeper hit.

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The winner was the only person to pick all five numbers that were drawn Saturday night — 7, 10, 11, 21, 32 — plus the Mega Number 5 to hit the jackpot.

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“I scanned it and I’m like, ‘Bro, you hit the jackpot!’’”

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“They say you hit the jackpot the first time, and then you’re a compulsive gambler after that.”

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"It seems like the families of the Muan Airport victims have hit the jackpot. They must be secretly delighted," said one such comment.

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