Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

a-one-way-ticket-to-something

idiom
/ˌeɪ ˈwʌnˌweɪ ˈtɪkɪt tu ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
Definition
A phrase indicating a situation or decision that leads definitively to a particular outcome, usually implying that there is no chance of returning to a previous state.
Examples
  • Choosing to invest all your savings in that risky startup feels like a one-way ticket to financial ruin.
  • When she agreed to move away for her job, it seemed like a one-way ticket to a new life.
  • Ignoring your health can be a one-way ticket to serious medical issues.
Meaning
This expression means that one is committed to a course of action that will lead to a specific result or consequence, often irreversible.
Synonyms
  • irreversible decision
  • one-way path
  • final choice