meal ticket
noun
a ticket that entitles the bearer to meals in a specified restaurant, especially when meals purchased in this manner are offered at reduced rates.
Informal.
someone upon whom one is dependent for one's income or livelihood: selfish children who look upon their father only as a meal ticket.
Informal.
something, as an object or ability possessed by a person, that is necessary to that person's livelihood: The radio announcer's voice was his meal ticket.
Origin of meal ticket
An Americanism dating back to 1865–70
Words nearby meal ticket
meadville,
meager,
meagre,
meal,
meal moth,
meal ticket,
mealie,
mealie meal,
mealie pap,
mealies,
meals on wheels
Definition for meal ticket (2 of 2)
Hubbell
[ huhb-uh l ]
/ ˈhʌb əl /
noun
Carl OwenKing CarlThe Meal Ticket,1903–88,
U.S. baseball pitcher.
Example sentences from the Web for meal ticket
British Dictionary definitions for meal ticket
meal ticket
noun
slang
a person, situation, etc, providing a source of livelihood or income
Word Origin for meal ticket
from original US sense of ticket entitling holder to a meal
Idioms and Phrases with meal ticket
meal ticket
A person or thing depended on as a source of income, as in Magic Johnson was a real meal ticket for his team, or Her interpersonal skills will be her meal ticket when she goes into sales. This metaphoric expression alludes to the earlier practice of handing out tickets that entitle their holder to a meal. [Early 1900s]