jackpot

[ jak-pot ]

noun

1. the chief prize or the cumulative stakes in a game or contest, as in bingo, a quiz contest, or a slot machine.
2. Poker. a pot that accumulates until a player opens the betting with a pair of predetermined denomination, usually jacks or better.
3. an outstanding reward or success.

jackpot

/ ˈdʒækˌpɒt /

noun

1. any large prize, kitty, or accumulated stake that may be won in gambling, such as a pool in poker that accumulates until the betting is opened with a pair of jacks or higher
2. hit the jackpot
   hit the jackpot
   1. to win a jackpot
   2. to achieve great success, esp through luck

Word History and Origins

Origin of jackpot¹

An Americanism dating back to 1880–85; of uncertain origin

Word History and Origins

Origin of jackpot¹

C20: probably from jack ¹(playing card) + pot ¹

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. hit the jackpot, Informal.
   1. to achieve a sensational success; have sudden luck:

      The firm has hit the jackpot with its new line of computers.

   2. to win a jackpot.

More idioms and phrases containing jackpot

see hit the jackpot .

Example Sentences

These sorts of high margins charged by campaign vendors are nothing new, but consultants stand to hit the jackpot if they’re working for a low-profile candidate who goes viral.

From FiveThirtyEight

Besides the attractive visuals, the site stands out with its bonus offers and the highest paying bitcoin games jackpot.

From Washington Blade

The post A fossilized egg laid by an extinct, human-sized turtle holds a rare jackpot appeared first on Popular Science.

From Popular-Science

That bet resulted in a sizable payout when Antetokounmpo put pen to paper on his supermax contract extension, but the jackpot came when Holiday’s hounding defense on Chris Paul changed the course of the Finals.

From FiveThirtyEight

His phone was a jackpot for the federal government, offering photographic evidence of a slew of crimes, including a storage locker he said Jenkins directed him to break into and clean out before his squad carried out a search.

From Washington Post

In the meantime, he takes trips to Vegas, sometimes sleeping in his car or in movie theaters for weeks, hoping to hit the jackpot.

From The Daily Beast

Just a few blocks down on Sixth Avenue in Birmingham, they hit the jackpot.

From The Daily Beast

Hillary Clinton, of course, hit the jackpot with her comparison of Putin to Hitler (never mind her clarification the next day).

From The Daily Beast

The jackpot hit when Matthew McConaughey read the script and said, “I want to do this.”

From The Daily Beast

From tour guides to chefs, glass blowers to club owners, they each tout different talents to hit the jackpot.

From The Daily Beast

Did the preacher gent die, er did Brother Peyton jump the game, taking the jackpot with him?

From Project Gutenberg

"Let him keep the doggone calf and we'll have to put up a jackpot for the feller that owns it," advised Bronco.

From Project Gutenberg

It was jackpot; the chips were piled high; and the man in the linen coat was dealing again.

From Project Gutenberg

Jimmie Greeley was raking in a jackpot, grinning fiendishly at the dour Jim Hutch when they heard heavy, running feet outside.

From Project Gutenberg

"Instead of bein' a jackpot bunch of triflin' no-account scalawags," murmured Jack.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• prize