meal ticket

noun

: one that serves as the ultimate source of one's income

an advanced degree was his meal ticket

Examples of meal ticket in a Sentence

a star player who is expected to be the team's meal ticket for many years

An advanced degree was his meal ticket.

We bought three meal tickets at the fair.

Recent Examples on the Web

Tight ends are meal tickets in crunch time A Batman always needs his Robin in a passing league. —Nate Atkins, The Indianapolis Star, 25 Jan. 2024

One dad in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, said he's seen parents become convinced these kids are their meal tickets and point fingers at the coach if the kid struggles. —Stephen Borelli, USA TODAY, 13 Jan. 2024

Weigh all that against putting him on the field when left tackle Trent Williams may or may not be there, and a youthful Rams player hoping to make a name for himself gets a clean shot at the 49ers’ meal ticket. —Jerry McDonald, The Mercury News, 5 Jan. 2024

Tickets: Visit Capital One Dining for details on multi-course meal tickets. —Melinda Sheckells, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Dec. 2023

Made for the ultimate disruptor, VIPs gain priority access to the summit, all activations and conversations, plus a meal ticket at our savory food vendors. —Danielle Wright, Essence, 10 Nov. 2023

Made for the ultimate disruptor, VIP’s gain priority access entry to summit, all activations and conversations, plus a meal ticket at our savory food vendors. —Danielle Wright, Essence, 6 Nov. 2023

That includes four games against quarterbacks that have played in Super Bowls the last five years — Jalen Hurts twice, Jared Goff and Matthew Stafford who should have his meal ticket Cooper Kupp back by then. —Tim Cowlishaw, Dallas News, 14 Sep. 2023

The picnic is free for all veterans, but meal tickets are required and must be reserved by Aug. 21 by calling the Office of Veterans Outreach at 440-973-4567 or emailing [e-mail]. —Rich Heileman, cleveland, 11 Aug. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1899, in the meaning defined above