gravy train
Effortless income source
A gravy train is a situation providing easy money or benefits with little effort required.
The image is of abundance flowing freely, like gravy ladled generously: He rode the gravy train for years before the company collapsed.
Often used critically to suggest unearned advantage: Politicians on the gravy train.
- gold mineExcavation for precious ore
- easy moneyProfit gained effortlessly
- sinecurePaid position requiring nothing
- cash cowDependable income source
- free rideBenefit without cost
easy ride · sweet deal · bonus · easy street · perk · nepotism · golden goose · mother lode · lagniappe · meal ticket · bread and butter · pork barrel · fat cat · patronage · cronyism · perquisite · treasure trove · cumshaw
- food idiomspiece of cake, bread winner, low-hanging fruit, cool as a cucumber, bad egg
- easy moneyeasy money, quick buck, fast cash, windfall, free lunch
- bureaucracybureaucracy, bureaucrat, bureaucrats, red tape, civil service
- train termsall aboard, engine, departure time, arrival time, passenger car
- advantagesedge, leverage, upper hand, leg up, head start
- farm idiomsmake hay while the sun shines, cream of the crop, put the cart before the horse, till the cows come home, buy the farm
gravy trainhard labor
Strenuous punitive work
rat race · backbreaking work · daily grind · toil · slog
gravy trainpittance
Insultingly small payment
pennies · peanuts · subsistence wages · starvation wages · poverty wages
gravy trainhonest work
Legitimate, ethical employment
earned income · merit-based pay · sweat equity · pulling one's weight · working for a living