Difference between revisions 261588548 and 284321696 on enwiki

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{{wiktionary}}
"'''Gravy train'''" is an [[Idiom|idiomatic expression]] that is used to refer to any lucrative endeavour. For emphasis one can describe the Gravy Train as having biscuit wheels.<ref>[http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=gravy An etymology for the phrase]</ref>

The word "gravy" by itself was used prior to the invention of the phrase "gravy train" as an [[interjection]] of pleasure at something that's easy to do with a great reward, or as an adjective to describe such a situation, à la 'cushy'.  An easy task.

In politics, "gravy train" refers to a depraved gorging on luxuries, since someone else foots the bill.

The term may be derived from the usage of the word gravy to mean "extra". The gravy train would thus be the train with many extras.[[citation needed]]

== External links and references ==
*[http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-gra4.htm Michael Quinion] "in the ''Courier of Connellsville'' (also in Pennsylvania) in November 1895, almost two decades before the previously oldest known example: ''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 Kelson laughingly told him that the New Haven lockup was "a gravy train." '' "

==References==
{{Reflist}}<!--added above categories/infobox footers by script-assisted edit-->

[[Category:English idioms]]

[[id:Gravy train]]