日常生活中，如果我们说，某某是我的饭票，那就是说，某某为我提供主要的生活来源。其实，英语中也有相同的用法。Meal ticket一词除了字面表示的“餐票”意思之外，也可以指某人的生活来源依靠。

Meal ticket may refer to a) a ticket that entitles the bearer to meals in a specified restaurant, especially when meals purchased in this manner are offered at reduced rates; b) someone upon whom one is dependent for one's income or livelihood, for example, selfish children who look upon their father only as a meal ticket; or c) something, as an object or ability possessed by a person, that is necessary to that person's livelihood, for example, the radio announcer's voice was his meal ticket. (Source: reference.com)

Meal ticket（饭票）可指在指定餐馆就餐的餐票，以此种方式就餐通常可以享受折扣；或者指某人收入或生活的主要来源，如，自私的孩子们只是把自己的父亲当成了饭票；或指某人赖以生存的一个物品或一项技能，比如，电台播音员的声音就是他的饭票。

相关阅读

饭友 meal pal

“啃老族”NEET group

造成食物浪费的“宾馆父母”

（中国日报网英语点津 Helen）

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