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 + withThe comet was on a collision course with the planet.
—often used figurativelyThe 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
But a revolt among moderates and GOP lawmakers in at-risk seats put that sect of the party on a collision course with the conservative ideologues.
—
Philip Elliott, TIME, 2 Apr. 2024
This has put them on a collision course with the provincial governments which had already sounded the alarm during the congressional battle over the omnibus bill.
—Agustino Fontevecchia, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024
No, there is no indication that Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks is on a collision course with Earth.
—The Arizona Republic, 27 Mar. 2024
In the scenario, the driver of a trolley car faces an imminent collision on the track and has only two options: do nothing and hit five people on the track, or pull a lever to switch the track and set the trolley on a collision course with one person.
—IEEE Spectrum, 4 Jan. 2024
Slowly, Phobos is spiraling toward Mars—and the doomed moon is on a collision course with the planet.
—Carlyn Kranking, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Feb. 2024
Southlake Carroll to face Euless Trinity Two historic high school football programs are now on a collision course in the new look district 4-6A: Euless Trinity and Southlake Carroll.
—Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Feb. 2024
Delaying it would put Mr. Netanyahu on a collision course with far-right government ministers who grudgingly supported the cease-fire because they were assured that the invasion would continue after only a short truce.
—Patrick Kingsley, New York Times, 28 Nov. 2023
Etiwanda 82, Los Osos 48: The Eagles clinched another Baseline League championship and continued on a collision course with Sierra Canyon to meet in the Open Division playoffs.
—Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 31 Jan. 2024
Philip Elliott, TIME, 2 Apr. 2024
This has put them on a collision course with the provincial governments which had already sounded the alarm during the congressional battle over the omnibus bill.
—Agustino Fontevecchia, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024
No, there is no indication that Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks is on a collision course with Earth.
—The Arizona Republic, 27 Mar. 2024
In the scenario, the driver of a trolley car faces an imminent collision on the track and has only two options: do nothing and hit five people on the track, or pull a lever to switch the track and set the trolley on a collision course with one person.
—IEEE Spectrum, 4 Jan. 2024
Slowly, Phobos is spiraling toward Mars—and the doomed moon is on a collision course with the planet.
—Carlyn Kranking, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Feb. 2024
Southlake Carroll to face Euless Trinity Two historic high school football programs are now on a collision course in the new look district 4-6A: Euless Trinity and Southlake Carroll.
—Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Feb. 2024
Delaying it would put Mr. Netanyahu on a collision course with far-right government ministers who grudgingly supported the cease-fire because they were assured that the invasion would continue after only a short truce.
—Patrick Kingsley, New York Times, 28 Nov. 2023
Etiwanda 82, Los Osos 48: The Eagles clinched another Baseline League championship and continued on a collision course with Sierra Canyon to meet in the Open Division playoffs.
—Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 31 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'on a collision course.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near on a collision course
Cite this Entry
“On a collision course.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/on%20a%20collision%20course. Accessed 28 Apr. 2024.
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