gravy train

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gravy train

Where it comes from

Said to be originally US railroad slang, referring to an easy, short haul that paid well. The word gravy by itself was used prior to any attestable use of gravy train to characterize cushy situations. Note also phrases with hog train as a possible source of analogy.

noun gravy trains

idiomatic An occupation or situation that generates considerable income or benefits while requiring little effort and carrying little risk. Johnston claims that Reuben Nelson and another tall negro were in New Haven the night of the escape and that they broke into the lockup. Johnson further states that the next day Nelson laughingly told him that the New Haven lockup was ‘a gravy train’.
Similar: sinecure

Translations

Every language

noun occupation that generates considerable income with little or less effort

Español	llevársela fácil, chollo, pichincha, bicoca, momio
Português	mamata
Français	poule aux œufs d'or
Deutsch	lauer Lenz
Italiano	ottenere molto con poco sforzo
Русский	тёплое ме́сто tjóploje mésto

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MLA

"gravy train." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/gravy%20train. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

gravy train. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/gravy%20train

Chicago

"gravy train." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/gravy%20train.

BibTeX

@misc{gravy_train_2026,
  title = {gravy train},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/gravy%20train},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}