collision course

noun

|Updated on: 17 Jun 2018

Definition of collision course

: a course (as of moving bodies or antithetical philosophies) that will result in collision or conflict if continued unaltered

See collision course defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of collision course from the Web

With this year’s divisional realignment this year, a collision course with Abington (now D3) is no longer possible.

— BostonGlobe.com, "2018 MIAA girls’ softball tournament brackets," 5 June 2018
In recent months, automakers have become increasingly nervous about the Trump administration’s collision course with California.

— New York Times, "E.P.A. Readies Plan to Weaken Rules That Require Cars to Be Cleaner," 27 Apr. 2018
Heaven knows how the eventual standings will shake out, though another Penguins-Capitals collision course seems inevitable, if only because that is how demons get exorcised.

— alex prewitt, SI.com, "What Deadline Deals Mean for the Stanley Cup Chase," 27 Feb. 2018
The group wants the full 44-member board to scrutinize the science behind the decision to reassess the standards, a move supported by automakers that put the EPA on a collision course with California and its pollution mandates.

— bloomberg news, BostonGlobe.com, "EPA ignoring its own research to roll back emission standards, advisers say," 29 May 2018
What if the other person has the same idea, and their tilt puts both heads on a collision course?

— gregg doyel, Indianapolis Star, "Doyel: Josef Newgarden's beautiful mind needs to go faster and faster," 24 May 2018
Israel and Iran have appeared to be on a collision course for months.

— josef federman, Fox News, "Israel strikes 'dozens' of Iranian targets in Syria," 11 May 2018
Cleveland and Boston are on a collision course, and, from the sound of it, at least one person in the Celtics locker room is looking forward to it.

— steven ruiz, For The Win, "Were the Celtics calling for LeBron James after their Game 3 win over 76ers?," 6 May 2018
The proposal could place Metro on a collision course with environmental advocates, who say saving time and money on Los Angeles County's toll lanes is a major reason that Angelenos buy zero-emission cars.

— laura j. nelson, latimes.com, "Metro wants to end free rides for clean-air vehicles in toll lanes," 25 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'collision course.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.