pay dirt

• Umgangssprachlicher Ausdruck für eine wertvolle Entdeckung, einen Erfolg oder das Finden von etwas Gewinnbringendem; ursprünglich aus dem Bergbau, wo 'pay dirt' Erde bezeichnet, die wertvolle Mineralien enthält.

An informal expression referring to a valuable discovery, success, or finding something profitable, originally from mining where 'pay dirt' is soil containing valuable minerals.

1. Valuable discoveryC1informalamerican

   A source of great profit or success; a valuable find.

   Goldgrube

   • After months of research, the team finally hit pay dirt with a new formula.
   • The investor struck pay dirt when the startup went public.
   • He knew he had found pay dirt when he discovered the rare artifact.

2. Mining termC2formal

   Earth or ore that contains enough valuable minerals to be profitably mined.

   Abbauwürdiges Erz

   • The miners were excited to finally reach pay dirt after weeks of digging.
   • The company's survey indicated a large area of pay dirt.
   • Extracting pay dirt requires specialized equipment.