door prize

See also: door-prize

English

Alternative forms

• door-prize

Noun

door prize (plural door prizes)

1. A gift given to people who attend a meeting, party, event, etc., especially one which is given on a random basis to one or some of the attendees.
   • 1948 July 5, “Republicans: How He Did It”, in Time:

     Dewey infantrymen passed out soft drinks and small favors to gawking visitors and gave every 200th visitor a door prize.

   • 1989 August 13, “Westchester Guide”, in New York Times, retrieved 9 Aug. 2011:

     Spectators are admitted free and are eligible to win a door prize of two tickets to the United States Open Championships at Flushing Meadows.

2. (cycling, humorous) A notional prize awarded to a cyclist who collides with the open door of a parked car.

References

• “door prize”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.