golden ticket

noun

plural golden tickets

: an extremely valuable opportunity or means of access to something desired

Back in 2005, the little-known playwright Glen Berger snagged a golden ticket of a job: writing the script for a Spider-Man musical directed by the MacArthur-certified genius Julie Taymor (The Lion King), with a score by U2's Bono and the Edge.

—Thom Geier

The bachelor's degree, he thinks, is the golden ticket that makes a career and everything else possible.

—Thomas Frank

… everyone I fight, I am their golden ticket because they know if they can beat me, they will make a name for themselves and go on to bigger and better things.

—James Degale

Examples of golden ticket in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Well, leave it to Disney to provide the golden ticket to a wondrous habitat few human observers have been able to access. —Devonne Goode, Parents, 22 Apr. 2025

Recently, the sister-in-law extended a golden ticket — a week-long escape for her brother and his wife, the original poster. —Erica Gerald Mason, People.com, 20 Apr. 2025

The golden ticket was sold last week at Kwik Trip on City Centre Drive. —Talia McWright, Twin Cities, 16 Apr. 2025

The Bottom Line Deferred and restricted compensation is a golden ticket—if the train stays on the tracks. —Anatoly Iofe, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1890, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for golden ticket

• chicot
• cricket
• picket
• picot
• thicket
• wicket