meal ticket: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Informal, Figurative
Quick answer
What does “meal ticket” mean?
A person or thing that provides financial security, especially by supplying regular income or free food.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person or thing that provides financial security, especially by supplying regular income or free food.
A metaphorical source of livelihood or support, often implying dependence. Can refer to a profitable professional skill, a lucrative contract, a person who pays for another's expenses, or a ticket that entitles the holder to meals (especially historically).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both varieties use the term with the same core meaning. The literal use is equally archaic in both.
Connotations
Identical connotations of exploitation or dependence in both varieties.
Frequency
Moderately low but stable frequency in both varieties. Slightly more common in media commentary and informal speech than in formal writing.
Grammar
How to Use “meal ticket” in a Sentence
[Person/Thing] is/was/became [Possessive] meal ticket.He/She saw [Person/Thing] as a meal ticket.To live off of [one's] meal ticket.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “meal ticket” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- (Not standard as a verb)
American English
- (Not standard as a verb)
adverb
British English
- (Not standard as an adverb)
American English
- (Not standard as an adverb)
adjective
British English
- (Not standard as an adjective)
American English
- (Not standard as an adjective)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. May be used informally to refer to a consistently profitable product line or client.
Academic
Very rare, except in sociological or economic discussions of dependency.
Everyday
Common in informal conversation to describe a person or job that financially supports someone.
Technical
Not used in technical contexts.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “meal ticket”
Strong
Neutral
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “meal ticket”
- Using it to mean a coupon for a single meal (use 'meal voucher'). Forgetting the negative connotation when it refers to a person. Treating it as a formal term.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is primarily informal and figurative. Avoid it in formal academic or business writing.
Rarely. While it denotes financial security, it often carries a negative connotation of exploitation or lack of genuine relationship. Calling a person a 'meal ticket' is almost always derogatory.
Historically, it was a ticket sold in advance or provided by an institution (like a factory or university) that could be exchanged for a meal. This usage is now largely obsolete.
It is a compound noun. It is not used as a verb or adjective.
A person or thing that provides financial security, especially by supplying regular income or free food.
Meal ticket: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmiːl ˌtɪk.ɪt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmiːl ˌtɪk.ɪt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “His degree was his meal ticket out of poverty.”
- “She realised she was just a meal ticket to him.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a literal ticket you hand in to get a free meal. Now, imagine a person who 'gives you meals' (financial support) consistently — they *are* your meal ticket.
Conceptual Metaphor
FINANCIAL SUPPORT IS A TICKET TO FOOD (a basic necessity).
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'meal ticket' used correctly?