on a collision course

idiom

: moving so as to crash into each other if one or the other does not change direction
The two airplanes were on a collision course.
often + with
The comet was on a collision course with the planet.
often used figuratively
The government's policies are putting us on a collision course with economic disaster.

Examples of on a collision course in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
That's putting immigration judges and the Trump administration on a collision course likely to slow down the record pace of cases immigration courts heard as President Biden left office. Russell Contreras, Axios, 7 Mar. 2025 The case appears likely to put the justices on a collision course with Trump’s sweeping efforts to consolidate power within the executive branch. Alexandra Banner, CNN, 27 Feb. 2025 The two measures aren’t explicitly at odds, but their competing aims could put them on a collision course. Seth Klamann, The Denver Post, 20 Feb. 2025 These efforts to reshape the government at a rapid clip have put him on a collision course with laws passed after the Watergate scandal. Tamara Keith, NPR, 15 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for on a collision course

Browse Nearby Words

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“On a collision course.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/on%20a%20collision%20course. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!