golden ticket

American  

[gohl-duhn tik-it] / ˈgoʊl dən ˈtɪk ɪt /

noun

Informal.

1. a way or chance to obtain something valuable or desirable that is often hard to get.

   A lot of parents think that getting into a prestigious university is a golden ticket, but you have to work hard to make that opportunity count.

   The serum contains proven ingredients that are a golden ticket to longer, healthier nails.

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Etymology

Origin of golden ticket

First recorded in 1680–90

Example Sentences

A Stanford software engineering degree used to be a golden ticket.

From Los Angeles Times

Paul has quickly become boxing's golden ticket - a measure of where the sport's power now sits.

From BBC

"I just graduated college. This is my first real job. I thought I had the golden ticket. I keep hoping stuff will get taken care of," she said.

From BBC

“Five years ago it seemed like being a software engineer was a golden ticket,” Rosenberg said.

From MarketWatch

“I viewed it as a ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ moment — I got the golden ticket,” he says.

From Los Angeles Times