gravy train

American  

noun

Slang.

1. a position in which a person or group receives excessive and unjustified money or advantages with little or no effort.

   The top executives were on the gravy train with their huge bonuses.

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gravy train British  

noun

1. slang a job requiring comparatively little work for good pay, benefits, etc

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gravy train Cultural  

1. A job or project that requires little effort but yields considerable profits: “His father worked hard to build the company, but all Percy has to do is sit back and ride the gravy train.”

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Etymology

Origin of gravy train

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

She is unsubtly telling Maine voters that this gravy train has only just left the station.

From Slate • Jun. 16, 2026

Dominion has been riding the gravy train for years, but its shareholders haven’t gotten any gravy.

From Barron's • May 19, 2026

Remember, the term life gravy train doesn’t last forever.

From MarketWatch • Nov. 15, 2025

A reputational gravy train is simply coming to an end.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 31, 2025

“But—well, I just got here, so you’ve been riding the gravy train longer.”

From "Ungifted" by Gordon Korman