just the ticket

Idioms  

1. Also, that's the ticket. Exactly what is needed; exactly right. For example, This van is just the ticket for carrying all our luggage, or That's the ticket—you're handling that chain saw very well. The second phrase dates from the early 1800s, and the first is slightly newer. The exact allusion is disputed—it could be to a winning lottery ticket, a price tag for merchandise, or, as one writer suggests, a corruption of the French word etiquette for “appropriate behavior.” For a synonym, see way to go.

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

just the ticket

As I imagine the series will do well — mystery with a smattering of horror seems very much what the people want — more may be just the ticket for some people.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 4, 2026

That seems just the ticket these days, whether you’re a company or a country.

From Barron's ● Jan. 23, 2026

A day of retail therapy can be just the ticket for some people to help them feel better about themselves.

From BBC ● Jul. 29, 2025

But if you like the idea of a knockout side dish with a certain savory je ne sais quoi, this is just the ticket.

From Salon ● Nov. 3, 2022

“There’s a place on the edge of the village that would be just the ticket, but I don’t suppose it could be bought for love nor money.”

From Across the Years by Eleanor H. (Eleanor Hodgman) Porter

Related Words

• achievement
• attainment
• contentment
• gratification
• perfection
• realization