ticket

views updated May 23 2018

tick·et / ˈtikit/ • n. 1. a piece of paper or small card that gives the holder a certain right, esp. to enter a place, travel by public transport, or participate in an event: admission is by ticket only. ∎  (ticket to/out of) a method of getting into or out of (a specified state or situation): drugs are seen as the only ticket out of poverty companies that appeared to have a one-way ticket to profitability.2. a certificate or warrant, in particular: ∎  an official notice of a traffic offense. ∎  a certificate of qualification as a ship's master, pilot, or other crew member.3. a label attached to a retail product, giving its price, size, and other details.4. [in sing.] a list of candidates put forward by a party in an election: his presence on the Republican ticket. ∎  a set of principles or policies supported by a party in an election: he stood for office on a strong right-wing, no-nonsense ticket.5. (the ticket) inf., dated the desirable or correct thing: a wet spring would be just the ticket for the garden.• v. (-et·ed, -et·ing) [tr.] 1. issue (someone) with an official notice of a traffic or other offense: park illegally and you are likely to be ticketed.2. (be ticketed) (of a passenger) be issued with a travel ticket: passengers can now get electronically ticketed. ∎  be destined or heading for a specified state or position: they were sure that Downing was ticketed for greatness.3. (be ticketed) (of a retail product) be marked with a label giving its price, size, and other details.PHRASES: punch one's ticket inf. deliberately undertake particular assignments that are likely to lead to promotion at work.write one's (own) ticket inf. dictate one's own terms.

ticket

views updated May 18 2018

ticket (short) written notice, label; †voucher, warrant, promise to pay XVI; slip bearing evidence of the holder's title to something XVII; (U.S.) list of candidates for election XVIII; the t., the correct thing XIX. Aphetic — F. †étiquet, OF. estiquet(te), f. estiquier, estequier fix, stick, var. of estichier, estechier — MDu. steken; see -ET.
Hence vb. XVII.