Fig.: to get rich

When our ship comes in, we will buy a new house and two new cars

Quando faremo fortuna, compreremo una nuova casa e due macchine nuove

And now the prodigal son had returned in triumph since he had “made good” as the saying goes

Ed ora il figliol prodigo era ritornato in grande stile dopo aver, come si dice, “fatto fortuna”

I have always dreamed of going to live on an island in the Caribbean, and as soon as my ship comes in, I will pack my bags and move there for good

Ho sempre sognato di andare a vivere su un'isola dei Caraibi e non appena farò fortuna, farò i bagagli e mi trasferirò per sempre

This expression probably originates from merchants who made their wealth when their valuable goods came into port on a ship from far-off places