Ride the gravy train

Meaning

Benefit from easy, often unearned profits.

Usage

Used to criticize someone profiting with little effort.

Origin & History

Origins and dates here are approximate summaries. Many idioms have disputed or unknown origins, and not every date has been checked against a historical dictionary, so treat specific dates and stories as a starting point rather than a citation.

American slang from the 1930s describing government or corporate perks.

Popularized in political commentary during the Great Depression.