meal ticket

meal ticket

noun

Definition of MEAL TICKET

: one that serves as the ultimate source of one's income <an advanced degree was his meal ticket>

Examples of MEAL TICKET

1. a star player who is expected to be the team's meal ticket for many years
2. An advanced degree was his meal ticket.
3. We bought three meal tickets at the fair.

First Known Use of MEAL TICKET

circa 1899

Rhymes with MEAL TICKET

Big Thicket, big-ticket, high-ticket, hot ticket, house cricket, mole cricket, split ticket