ENGLISH
REFERENCE

that's the ticket

idiom
Meaning

That's just right; that's just what is needed.


Origin

disputed origin

Ellipsis of that's the ticket for soup, from the 1820s.

Examples
SIMPLE

A cold drink is exactly what I need; that's the ticket.

CONTEXTUAL

We were struggling to fix the engine, but this new part is exactly what we needed—that's the ticket.

COMPLEX

After hours of searching for the perfect solution to the complex design flaw, the lead engineer realized that this simple adjustment was finally the ticket.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    buy a ticket to

    Used to indicate that someone is in agreement with an assertion, statement, or suggestion.

  2. 02

    E ticket

    Something very thrilling or exciting.

  3. 03

    golden ticket

    A qualification, person or thing that can provide positive opportunities.

  4. 04

    meal ticket

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

  5. 05

    one-way ticket to Palookaville

    Something that results in failure or obscurity, with no chance at redemption; a dead end.

  6. 06

    punch someone's ticket

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

  7. 07

    that's about the size of it

    That is the situation; that is how it is.

  8. 08

    that's all she wrote

    Indicating an abrupt termination of a project, or of one’s hopes or plans.

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