棚たなからぼた餅もち

expression, noun

sudden windfall; unexpected piece of good luck

Idiomatic expression for an unexpected stroke of luck, often financial. Literally 'botamochi falling from a shelf', implying good fortune coming without effort.

See also: ぼた餅

• 宝たからくじが当あたるなんて、まさに棚たなからぼた餅もちだ。

  Winning the lottery is truly a sudden windfall.

• 彼かれは棚たなからぼた餅もちのような幸こう運うんで、突とつ然ぜん大たい金きんを手てにした。

  He came into a large sum of money through an unexpected piece of good luck.