meal ticket

American  

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.

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meal ticket British  

noun

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

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meal ticket Idioms  

1. 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]

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Etymology

Origin of meal ticket

An Americanism dating back to 1865–70

Example Sentences

They donned their green jackets, asked after grandchildren, cracked wise, drank wine and thought back to the long-ago shots that were their meal tickets now.

From New York Times

“Pool is a game I enjoy … it has also become my meal ticket,” he said.

From Washington Times

He recently qualified to enroll in a program that comes with a grant to buy books and 20 monthly meal tickets — but now the bookstore and cafeteria are closed.

From Los Angeles Times

The U.S. attorney’s office in Manhattan said that Avenatti saw the youth basketball coach, Gary Franklin, as a “meal ticket” to help dig himself out of debt.

From Washington Post

A medical center supervisor also noticed that she could never read Litwin’s ID badge because it was covered with a meal ticket.

From Los Angeles Times