- A situation, especially a job or position, where someone earns a lot of money for very little effort.
- It implies easy money and often suggests the situation is undeserved or unsustainable.
Explanation
Origin
- Originated in American railroad slang in the early 20th century.
- Gravy has been slang for easy profit or extra benefit since the early 1900s.
- A gravy train likely referred to a train run (a job) that was particularly easy or paid unusually well for the work involved.
- The imagery combines the ease of train travel (for passengers) with the richness and ease associated with gravy.
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Slang/Informal:
- Cushy number (UK/Aus)
- Sweet deal
- Money for old rope (UK, means easy money)
- Skimming off the top (Implies taking easy profit, sometimes unethically)
Milder/Standard:
- A lucrative position
- An easy job
- Well-compensated for the work involved
- A comfortable situation
More Formal/Critical:
- A sinecure
- Receiving unearned benefits
- Exploiting a loophole (If the easy money is due to rules)
Situational Appropriateness
- Informal to neutral.
- Can carry a negative connotation, implying laziness or undeserved benefit, so be cautious using it directly about someone's job unless you intend criticism or are joking with friends.
- Less likely to be used in formal reports, where lucrative position or sinecure might be preferred.
Misunderstanding Warnings
- Learners might be confused by the literal image of a train carrying gravy.
- Explain the slang meaning of gravy as easy money/profit.
Examples
- He got a director position through connections; he's been riding the gravy train ever since.
- Some people think working for the government is just a gravy train.
- The company's early success created a gravy train for the initial investors.
Dialogue
Chris: Did you hear about Steve's new consulting gig? Apparently, he charges $500 an hour just to attend meetings.
Dana: Seriously? That sounds like a total gravy train!
Chris: I know, right? Some people have all the luck.
Social Media Examples
- Tweet: Must be nice working in a sector with guaranteed bonuses year after year. Total gravy train compared to the gig economy. #economics #jobs
- Forum Post: Is the tech industry still the gravy train it used to be, or are things getting tougher? #careers #tech
- Comment: He thinks his job is stressful? Try working retail! He's on a gravy train and doesn't even know it.
Response Patterns
This is usually a comment or accusation, not requiring a direct response from the person on the train.
Responses from others hearing the comment:
- Agreement: Yeah, must be nice. / Totally unfair.
- Skepticism: Are you sure it's that easy? / Maybe they work harder than you think.
- Envy: I wish I could get on that gravy train!
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
After someone mentions a gravy train:
- Asking for details: Really? What do they actually do?
- Expressing opinion: That doesn't seem right. / Good for them!
- Comparing to one's own situation: Meanwhile, I'm working my tail off...
Conversation Starter
- No.
- Used to describe or comment on a situation perceived as providing easy money.
Intonation
- Stress usually falls on gravy and train.
- Often said with a slightly cynical, envious, or critical tone.
- He's just riding the GRAVY TRAIN.
Generation Differences
- Understood by most generations, but perhaps used more frequently by older generations (40+).
Regional Variations
- Primarily American English in origin, but widely understood in other English-speaking regions.