collision course

American  

noun

1. a course or path of a vehicle, projectile, etc., that, if unchanged, will lead to a collision with another object.

2. any plan, attitude, or course of action that leads to a confrontation or conflict with another.

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Etymology

Origin of collision course

First recorded in 1940–45

Example Sentences

European and American mores on speech are on a collision course.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 21, 2026

“This puts it on a collision course with the tribes,” said Victor Rocha, conference chair of the Indian Gaming Assn., who said he did not have advance notice of this.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 15, 2026

"In other words, if two aircraft had been on a collision course, controllers would not have been able to give them instructions," he said.

From Barron's • Jan. 13, 2026

Just as the parade reaches City Hall, another parade is on a slow-motion collision course with our own.

From Salon • Nov. 8, 2025

The cars were safe, but the world and heavens were now on a collision course with the basketball game.

From "Ungifted" by Gordon Korman