on a collision course

idiom

: moving so as to crash into each other if one or the other does not change direction
The two airplanes were on a collision course.
often + with
The comet was on a collision course with the planet.
often used figuratively
The government's policies are putting us on a collision course with economic disaster.

Examples of on a collision course in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Crystal and the doctor are on a collision course, though neither knows it yet, and screenwriter Alex Garland takes the scenic route to get there. Damon Wise, Deadline, 13 Jan. 2026 Both teams could be on a collision course for the NFC Championship Game with one more win each. Scott Phillips, New York Times, 13 Jan. 2026 That put Crockett and Talarico on a collision course. John C. Moritz, Austin American Statesman, 5 Jan. 2026 Honda’s latest motorcycle patent is for a system that would make the bike automatically dodge any vehicle that's bound on a collision course with it. New Atlas, 30 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for on a collision course

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“On a collision course.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/on%20a%20collision%20course. Accessed 27 Jan. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!