Phrase guide

meal ticket

noun · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

A ticket or voucher that can be exchanged for food.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • Volunteers are provided with a meal ticket for every four hours of service.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: bread ticket

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

Someone or something that provides income or livelihood, especially as an exploited source.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • I don't enjoy this job, but it is my meal ticket.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: bread ticket

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

coupon redeemable at a restaurant and entitling the holder to a meal

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: luncheon voucher

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: coupon, voucher

4

noun

Meaning 4

a source of income or livelihood

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: support, keep, livelihood, living, bread and butter, sustenance

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

27 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Armenian: տալոն (talon) — a voucher for food
  • Finnish: ruokalipuke — a voucher for food
  • French: ticket-restaurant — a voucher for food
  • French: ticket-repas — a voucher for food
  • French: bon — a voucher for food
  • French: ticket — a voucher for food
  • French: coupon — a voucher for food
  • Italian: tagliando — a voucher for food
  • Japanese: 食券 (shokken) — a voucher for food
  • Norwegian: matbong — a voucher for food
  • Polish: talon na posiłek — a voucher for food
  • Russian: ка́рточка (kártočka) — a voucher for food
  • Russian: тало́н m на пита́ние (talón) — a voucher for food
  • Spanish: vale — a voucher for food
  • Spanish: cupón — a voucher for food
  • Spanish: harina de billetes — a voucher for food
  • Finnish: leipä — an exploited source of income or livelihood
  • French: gagne-pain — an exploited source of income or livelihood
  • French: gogo — an exploited source of income or livelihood
  • French: pigeon — an exploited source of income or livelihood
  • Italian: gonzo — an exploited source of income or livelihood
  • Italian: pollo — an exploited source of income or livelihood
  • Korean: 밥줄 (bapjul) — an exploited source of income or livelihood
  • Polish: źródło utrzymania — an exploited source of income or livelihood
  • Russian: корми́лец (kormílec) — an exploited source of income or livelihood
  • Spanish: primo — an exploited source of income or livelihood
  • Turkish: ekmek parası — an exploited source of income or livelihood