punch someone's ticket

The idiom "punch someone's ticket" is chiefly used in North America and can have both violent and non-violent connotations depending on the context.

Definition

C2Crime

(informal, violent)To cause someone's death.

Example

  • The mob boss ordered his men to punch the informant's ticket.
  • In the movie, the villain threatens to punch the hero's ticket if he doesn't cooperate.

C1Career

(informal, positive)To achieve a significant milestone or goal.

Example

  • Completing this project will really punch your ticket for a promotion.
  • Winning the championship punched the coach's ticket to the Hall of Fame.

Similar

Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "punch someone's ticket":

punched outpunch inpunch outpunch uppunch downpunch-up sessiongut punchone-way ticketkick someone's asspunch lineticket to ridepack a punchsmart ticketpunch cardtick off