crock of gold
Rainbow's end reward
A crock of gold is a large pot filled with gold coins, most famously associated with Irish folklore where leprechauns are said to hide one at the end of the rainbow.
The phrase often appears in discussions of impossible quests or illusory rewards, since rainbows have no fixed endpoint.
Chasing that promotion was like looking for a crock of gold.
The image suggests treasure that exists more in imagination than reality.
Wealth or destiny
- serendipityAccidental fortunate discovery
- windfallUnanticipated lucky gain
- jackpotAccumulated gambling prize
- blessingPrayer seeking divine favor
boon · lucky find · stroke of luck · wish granted · destiny · fate · prosperity · opportunity
Mischievous Irish sprite
- shamrockThree-leafed Irish emblem
- Emerald IsleNickname for verdant Ireland
- folkloreInherited cultural narratives
- CelticOf Irish-Welsh descent
faerie · St. Patrick · hidden treasure · magical · enchanted · Gaelic · banshee · harp
Hidden accumulated valuables
- coinsMetal money units
- jewelsOrnamental precious stones
- gemsCut precious stones
- buried treasureValuables interred for safekeeping
cache · trove · riches · bounty · precious · glittering · discovery · unearthed
Unverified traditional tale
- fableMoral tale with animals
- folkloreInherited cultural narratives
- fantasyImaginative mental wandering
- taleSpoken or written narrative
mythology · storytelling · superstition · tradition · narrative · lore · quest · elusive
Misleading sensory impression
- pipe dreamUnrealistic aspiration
- fool's errandHopeless, pointless task
- wild goose chaseHopeless pursuit of nothing
- false promisePledge made insincerely
unattainable · mirage · fantasy · wishful thinking · empty promise · too good to be true · deception · swindle
fortune
Wealth or destiny
- serendipityAccidental fortunate discovery
- windfallUnanticipated lucky gain
- jackpotAccumulated gambling prize
blessing · boon · lucky find · stroke of luck · wish granted · destiny · fate · prosperity · opportunity · bonanza
leprechaun
Mischievous Irish sprite
- shamrockThree-leafed Irish emblem
- Emerald IsleNickname for verdant Ireland
- folkloreInherited cultural narratives
Celtic · faerie · St. Patrick · hidden treasure · magical · enchanted · Gaelic · banshee · harp · fiddle
hoard
Hidden accumulated valuables
buried treasure · cache · trove · riches · bounty · precious · glittering · discovery · unearthed · secret stash
legend
Unverified traditional tale
- fableMoral tale with animals
- folkloreInherited cultural narratives
- fantasyImaginative mental wandering
tale · mythology · storytelling · superstition · tradition · narrative · lore · quest · elusive · mythical
illusion
Misleading sensory impression
- pipe dreamUnrealistic aspiration
- fool's errandHopeless, pointless task
- wild goose chaseHopeless pursuit of nothing
false promise · unattainable · mirage · fantasy · wishful thinking · empty promise · too good to be true · deception · swindle · con
crock of goldempty vessel
Container lacking contents
fool's gold · wooden nickel · lead weight · nothing · debt
crock of goldcurse
Invoked harm through words
misfortune · bad luck · ruin · poisoned chalice · Pandora's box
crock of goldwild goose chase
Hopeless pursuit of nothing
pipe dream · fool's errand · empty promise · mirage · castle in the air
crock, crocks, crocked, crockery, gold, golden, gild, gilded, gilding