Pans Out Nicely (Origin)

What Is the Origin of the Saying "Pans Out Nicely"?

If something pans out nicely, it means that things have gone well. The term derives from the miners and prospectors who carried large pans in search for precious metal. They would fill their pans with mud and residue from a stream and rinse and shake it so the heavier elements would be separated by falling to the bottom. If these turned out to be gold or any other precious metal, then things had panned out nicely.

Examples of Use:

• Your business idea seems to be panning out nicely.
• Things have really panned out nicely for Jack and Jill, haven't they?
• Thanks for the advice. That little investment is panning out nicely.

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