gravy train
an easy way to make money
TRANSLATION
gravy = Bratensoße gravy train = die eigene Gelddruckmaschine to ride the gravy train = schnelles Geld machen --- GOOGLE INDEX gravy train: approximately 3,000,000 Google hits
STATISTICS
IN THE PRESS
Mr Dickson said he believes "a lot of MPs see their position not as a social one, but as their own personal GRAVY TRAIN," and said he would be donating his first year's salary as an MP to "constituency issues and charitable organisations."
(BBC News)
---
Restraints on executive pay.
Attacking the corporate GRAVY TRAIN.
The global downturn has sparked outrage over executive compensation.
The Economist
(BBC News)
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Restraints on executive pay.
Attacking the corporate GRAVY TRAIN.
The global downturn has sparked outrage over executive compensation.
The Economist
Did you
know?
gravy train
noun phrase, slang
- an occupation or other source of income that requires little effort while yielding considerable profit
(American Heritage Dictionary)
---
In 1975, the English rock band Pink Floyd released their Wish You Were Here album, which included the hit single Have A Cigar. The song paints a cynical picture of cigar smoking executives whose only interest is making money without regard to artistic content. The last line of the song sums it up:
Come in here, dear boy, have a cigar.
You're gonna go far, fly high,
You're never gonna die,
You're gonna make it if you try;
They're gonna love you.
Well I've always had a deep respect,
And I mean that most sincerely.
The band is just fantastic,
That is really what I think.
Oh by the way, which one's Pink?
And did we tell you the name of the game, boy,
We call it Riding the Gravy Train.
On the original recording, the song's lead vocals are performed by English folk/rock singer-songwriter Roy Harper. Pink Floyd musicians Roger Waters and David Gilmour sang the song on separate takes, as well as a duet version, but they were unhappy with the results. Harper happened to be recording his own album in the same studio and Gilmour invited him to sing the part. Have A Cigar is one of only two Pink Floyd songs recorded with a guest singer.
(adapted from Wikipedia)
Etymology: The origin of this expression is unknown, but likely is a reference to an easy train run that brings the crew good pay. Gravy has long been used as slang for something that is easy to do or which brings an unexpected benefit.
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SYNONYMS
lap of luxury, life of Riley, the good life, life of ease
--
SMUGGLE OWAD into today's conversation
"Running a successful business is not a gravy train, but long hours and hard work."
noun phrase, slang
- an occupation or other source of income that requires little effort while yielding considerable profit
(American Heritage Dictionary)
---
In 1975, the English rock band Pink Floyd released their Wish You Were Here album, which included the hit single Have A Cigar. The song paints a cynical picture of cigar smoking executives whose only interest is making money without regard to artistic content. The last line of the song sums it up:
Come in here, dear boy, have a cigar.
You're gonna go far, fly high,
You're never gonna die,
You're gonna make it if you try;
They're gonna love you.
Well I've always had a deep respect,
And I mean that most sincerely.
The band is just fantastic,
That is really what I think.
Oh by the way, which one's Pink?
And did we tell you the name of the game, boy,
We call it Riding the Gravy Train.
On the original recording, the song's lead vocals are performed by English folk/rock singer-songwriter Roy Harper. Pink Floyd musicians Roger Waters and David Gilmour sang the song on separate takes, as well as a duet version, but they were unhappy with the results. Harper happened to be recording his own album in the same studio and Gilmour invited him to sing the part. Have A Cigar is one of only two Pink Floyd songs recorded with a guest singer.
(adapted from Wikipedia)
Etymology: The origin of this expression is unknown, but likely is a reference to an easy train run that brings the crew good pay. Gravy has long been used as slang for something that is easy to do or which brings an unexpected benefit.
---
SYNONYMS
lap of luxury, life of Riley, the good life, life of ease
--
SMUGGLE OWAD into today's conversation
"Running a successful business is not a gravy train, but long hours and hard work."
