gravy train

Thân thiện

He hopped on the gravy train with that easy government contract.

Definition

Noun: - A source of easy money or unearned profit: Refers to a job, situation, or activity that provides substantial financial gain or benefits with little effort or work required. It often implies a position of undeserved or excessive advantage.

Usage

The term "gravy train" is used to describe a situation where money or benefits are received abundantly and easily. It carries a connotation of luck, privilege, or exploitation, and is often used critically or enviously. - It is typically used with verbs like ride, be on, get on, or enjoy. - It is a singular, countable noun.

Examples

Advanced Usage

• "to ride the gravy train": To enjoy the benefits of an easy, lucrative situation.
  • For years, they rode the gravy train thanks to the monopoly.
• "to be on the gravy train": To be in a position of receiving easy money.
  • Once you're in that department, you're on the gravy train.
• "the gravy train is over": Indicates that a period of easy profit has ended.
  • With the new regulations, the gravy train is over for those companies.

Variants and Related Words

• Gravy (noun, informal): Money or profit easily or unexpectedly obtained.
  • The bonus was pure gravy.
• Easy street (noun, idiomatic): A state of financial comfort or prosperity.
  • His invention put him on easy street.

Synonyms

• Easy money: Money earned with little effort.
• Cash cow: A business, product, or asset that generates steady, significant income.
• Windfall: An unexpected, large financial gain.

Related Idioms

• "Living off the fat of the land": Living in luxury, especially at the expense of others or without hard work. (Conceptually related, though not a direct synonym.)
• "Money for old rope" (British English): Payment for very little or easy work.

Học thuật

Noun

1. income obtained with a minimum of effort

Từ đồng nghĩa

• easy money