motherlode
Miner's ultimate strike
The motherlode is the principal vein or deposit of ore in a mine—the source from which smaller veins branch.
Figuratively, it means any rich source or main supply: We hit the motherlode of vintage records at that estate sale.
Often spelled as two words: mother lode.
Sudden large windfall
- treasureValued wealth or keepsake
- troveAccumulated valuable collection
- bountyReward for capture
- richesAbundant valuable possessions
fortune · wealth · hoard · cornucopia · profusion · plenty · windfall · goldmine
Vessel toward heart
- oreMetal-bearing rock
- goldElement seventy-nine
- strikeForceful impact or stoppage
- depositPlace for safekeeping
lode · prospector · shaft · tunnel · excavation · geology · mineralogy · pickaxe
Forceful impact or stoppage
- findLocate through effort
- eurekaDiscovery triumph cry
- jackpotAccumulated gambling prize
- breakthroughSudden important advance
unearthing · bonanza · windfall · paydirt · revelation · serendipity · prospecting · exploration
Starting point or source
- wellspringPrimary source of something
- fountainheadOriginal source of something
- epicenterPoint above seismic origin
- nucleusCentral controlling part
seedbed · cradle · root · genesis · birthplace · reservoir · stockpile · cache
bonanza
Sudden large windfall
riches · fortune · wealth · hoard · cornucopia · profusion · plenty · windfall · goldmine · jackpot
vein
Vessel toward heart
deposit · lode · prospector · shaft · tunnel · excavation · geology · mineralogy · pickaxe · drill
strike
Forceful impact or stoppage
breakthrough · unearthing · bonanza · windfall · paydirt · revelation · serendipity · prospecting · exploration · detect
origin
Starting point or source
- wellspringPrimary source of something
- fountainheadOriginal source of something
- epicenterPoint above seismic origin
nucleus · seedbed · cradle · root · genesis · birthplace · reservoir · stockpile · cache · repository
- mininggold, mines, gold mines, mine, coal
- treasuretreasures, treasure trove, gold coins, jewels, doubloons
- money idiomsarm and a leg, break the bank, penny pincher, cheapskate, tightwad
- game cheatscheat codes, cheats, invincibility, infinite lives, infinite health
- gold mininggold pan, pan, panning, nuggets, gold nugget
- ore depositslode, mineral deposits, vein, gold deposits, gold deposit
motherlodetrickle
Thin, slow stream
pittance · bare minimum · dribs and drabs · trace amounts · scrap
motherlodestrikeout
Batter retired on pitches
dead end · wild goose chase · bust · disappointment · false lead
mother, motherly, motherhood, mothers, mothering, motherland, motherboard, mother tongue, mother ship