English Reference
Idiom idiom

punch someone's ticket


To put someone, especially oneself, in a position to advance or to achieve a desired objective; to gain useful experience.

Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.


SIMPLE

He took the internship to punch his ticket to a better job.

CONTEXTUAL

She worked on the difficult project for two years, hoping it would punch her ticket to a promotion.

COMPLEX

By volunteering for the most challenging assignments abroad, the ambitious young diplomat effectively punched his ticket to a future leadership role within the ministry.


Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    another nail in someone's coffin

    An event that increases the likelihood of or causes further failure.

  2. 02

    answer someone's prayers

    To be or do exactly what someone has been wishing or asking for.

  3. 03

    answer to someone's prayers

    Exactly what someone has been wishing or asking for.

  4. 04

    apple of someone's eye

    The object of somebody's affections; a person (or sometimes a thing) that someone strongly prefers; a favorite, a loved one.

  5. 05

    bane of someone's existence

    Someone or something that poses a significant problem to someone.

  6. 06

    bash someone's face in

    To beat someone violently.

  7. 07

    bash someone's head

    To beat up someone violently.

  8. 08

    be someone's to lose

    To be anticipated to be won by someone.

Last updated August 10, 2026