pay dirt

noun

1. soil, gravel, or ore that can be mined profitably.
2. Informal. any source of success or wealth; a fortunate discovery or profitable venture:

   After months of experimentation, the scientists finally hit pay dirt.

3. Football. end zone ( def 1 ).

pay dirt

noun

1. a deposit rich enough in minerals to be worth mining
2. strike pay dirt or hit pay dirt informal.
   to achieve one's objective

Word History and Origins

Origin of pay dirt¹

An Americanism dating back to 1855–60

Example Sentences

Their initial attempts failed to find nematodes in lakebed sediments, prompting Jung to take a hammer to samples of microbialites where she struck biological pay dirt.

From Science Daily

A cadre of agents — veterans who had seized fentanyl, heroin and other illicit narcotics in previous raids — dug deep, hands and boots in a sea of pungent material, before hitting pay dirt.

From Los Angeles Times

He’d strike pay dirt with “Come Monday” and, especially, “Margaritaville,” songs that brought him into the pop mainstream and established the foundation of a career that brought him from the beach into Wall Street boardrooms.

From Los Angeles Times

But Earth MRI is also planning hyperspectral surveys that will scan the treeless, arid surface for pay dirt.

From Science Magazine

The real pay dirt is likely to reveal itself when the rushing waters swollen with snow melt subside.

From New York Times