🚂 Riding the Gravy Train: Easy Money and the Luxurious Life Express 🤑
gravy train, the - Easy money; the good life, obtained with little effort. This American slang term became current during the financial boom of the 1920s. It originated in railroad slang, where “gravy train” meant a run on which there was good pay and little work. (Gravy itself became slang for easy money, or an illicit profit obtained through graft, in the early 1900s.) “There was a moment . . . when the whole Jocelyn sideshow seemed to be boarding the gravy train . . . on to fatter triumphs” (Mary McCarthy, The Groves of Academe, 1953).
Related and Similar Terms:
- Fat City: A period of easy living or prosperity.
- Midas Touch: The ability to turn any venture into a success.
- Money for Old Rope: Gaining profit without significant effort or risk.
- Cash Cow: A venture that consistently generates a significant return with minimal investment.
- High on the Hog: Living luxuriously, often more than one can afford.
Proverbs & Common Phrases:
- “The early bird catches the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.” (Patience can sometimes yield richer rewards with less effort.)
- “Make hay while the sun shines.” (Take advantage of favorable conditions to succeed easily.)
Humor-filled Quotes:
- “If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door… but let’s be honest, it’s far easier if the door’s already there.” — E.Z. Bucksworth
- “Some people are so lucky they could fall into a barrel of cow dung and come out smelling like roses.” — Anonymous
Suggested Literature, Books, Songs, Poetry, and Movies:
- Books: The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clason, exploring timeless financial principles.
- Songs: “Can’t Buy Me Love” by The Beatles, a reminder that wealth isn’t everything.
- Movies: The Wolf of Wall Street (2013), chronicling the meteoric rise (and fall) on Wall Street.
- Poetry: If by Rudyard Kipling, about maintaining integrity amid success and failure.
### Which of these is a valid definition of "gravy train"?
- [x] Easy money or a luxurious life obtained with little effort
- [ ] A long and arduous journey
- [ ] A grand feast with multiple courses
- [ ] An overnight train service with sleeper cabins
> **Explanation:** "Gravy train" refers to obtaining easy money or living a luxurious life with minimal effort, originating from American railroad slang.
### Which of these sayings conveys a similar meaning to "gravy train"?
- [ ] A stitch in time saves nine
- [ ] Actions speak louder than words
- [x] Fat city
- [ ] Jump on the bandwagon
> **Explanation:** "Fat city" refers to a period of easy living or prosperity, similar to "gravy train".
### True or False: 'Midas Touch' means having the ability to fail at everything you attempt
- [ ] True
- [x] False
> **Explanation:** False. 'Midas Touch' means having the ability to turn any venture into a success, which aligns with the concept of the 'gravy train'.
May your journey through riches and wisdom be as smooth as a ride on the gravy train.
— E.Z. Bucksworth, 2023
