[Ads-l] "strike it rich" (1851-52)

[Ben Zimmer]

The OED2 entry for "strike" has "strike it rich" from 1854 (with plain
"strike it" from 1852). Here it is from 1851-52, in the context of the
California Gold Rush as with the OED cites.

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Pittston (Penn.) Gazette, Feb. 27, 1852, p. 2, col. 3
"Letter from California," by F.L.B.
When they "strike it rich" they make their fortune at once, taking up $500
to the pail full of dirt.
https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittston-gazette-strike-it-rich/181327633/
---

The letter is dated Nov. 2, 1851 ("at the cabin in Buckeye, Mokelumne
Hill"), and appears to quote a journal entry from Sept. 23.

It's not clear how the idiomatic phrasing of "strike it rich" emerged, but
I noticed a couple of examples of "strike something rich," meaning "strike
a rich vein or lead," in other Gold Rush correspondence from 1851.

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Pittsburgh (Penn.) Post, May 13, 1851, p. 2, col. 3
"From California," by J.B.F. (dated Mar. 25, 1851)
Any hard laboring man can go into the mines, and if not overtaken by
sickness and works steady, satisfied with what he gets, can make on an
average three or four dollars per day, with the chance of striking
something rich.
https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-post-striking-something-r/181327160/
---
Hannibal (Mo.) Journal, Sept. 4, 1851, p. 2, col. 5
"Letter from California," by C.A. Leaman (dated July 8, 1851)
It is true, occasionly, a lucky one happens to strike something rich, and
makes his pile as we say in a short time.
https://www.newspapers.com/article/hannibal-journal-strike-something-rich/181327280/
---

So I wonder if "strike it rich" originated as a kind of idiom blend,
combining "strike it" and "strike something rich."

--bgz

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