VOA · Words and Their Stories
Advanced · C1learner speed4:152024-11-14public domain
Words and Their Stories is VOA's classic program about American English expressions and idioms — where phrases like 'break the ice' come from and how to use them. Native-like idioms in slow, clear speech: a rare combination for learners.
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01And now, words and their stories from VOA Learning English.
02On this program, we explore words and expressions in the English language.
03We give examples and notes on usage.
04Many valuable materials are buried deep inside the ground, such as gold, oil, and diamonds.
05But finding these riches and bringing them to the surface takes much time and effort.
06In the past, the term pay dirt was used to describe something found in the dirt that could bring you money.
07Gold is a common example of pay dirt.
08In fact, word experts say the term dates back to when North America's famous gold rush was happening.
09By the mid-1800s, thousands of people had come to parts of the United States and Canada to search for gold.
10The work was hard and dangerous.
11The weather and terrain presented many difficulties.
12Here is an example of how to use pay dirt from Cambridge's online dictionary.
13Gold rushes continued into the 19th century as lucky prospectors struck pay dirt.
14However, pay dirt does not have to be a valuable material found in the ground.
15These days, it can also describe something that produces money or profit.
16Or it can even be the money or profit itself.
17Here are some additional examples.
18Email addresses are the new pay dirt in social media marketing.
19You can reach a possible buyer in their inbox.
20The musical group hit pay dirt with their song after it went viral on TikTok.
21And that gives us the expression to hit pay dirt.
22To hit pay dirt means to do or find something that results in money or success.
23And like digging gold, it usually doesn't come easily.
24It requires work.
25When you hit pay dirt, you work hard to make money or profit from an idea or activity.
26We often use the verb hit when using the term pay dirt.
27But sometimes we also say strike pay dirt.
28This is similar to the expression to strike it rich.
29Many people have dreams of striking it rich one day.
30In her book, Gold Rush, author and illustrator Flora DeLargi describes the process of hitting pay dirt.
31She writes that in order to get large amounts of pay dirt out of the ground, miners would have to break through layers of permafrost to reach the gravel bedrock beneath.
32This description demonstrates the difficulties faced by miners seeking to strike pay dirt.
33And that's the end of this Words and Their Stories.
34Until next time, I'm Anna Mateo.
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