meal ticket

noun

1. a ticket that entitles the bearer to meals in a specified restaurant, especially when meals purchased in this manner are offered at reduced rates.
2. 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.

3. 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.

meal ticket

noun

1. slang.
   a person, situation, etc, providing a source of livelihood or income

Word History and Origins

Origin of meal ticket¹

An Americanism dating back to 1865–70

Word History and Origins

Origin of meal ticket¹

from original US sense of ticket entitling holder to a meal

Idioms and Phrases

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]