gravy
B1Informal (extended meaning); Neutral (culinary meaning)
Definition
Meaning
A sauce, usually made from meat juices and often thickened with flour, served with meat and other dishes.
Something desirable, especially money or success, obtained with little effort; an unexpected or unearned benefit.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The culinary sense is concrete and literal. The extended, figurative sense is common in informal contexts, often implying effortless gain or a pleasant bonus.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The core culinary meaning is identical. The idiom 'the gravy train' (meaning a situation yielding easy money) is used in both, but may be slightly more frequent in AmE. 'Gravy' as slang for money/profit is also common in AmE.
Connotations
In both varieties, the culinary sense is positive (comfort food). The figurative sense can be positive (a welcome bonus) or slightly pejorative (implying lack of merit).
Frequency
The culinary term is very high frequency in both. The figurative use is moderately common in informal AmE and BrE.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
Gravy with [noun] (e.g., gravy with the roast)[Noun] in gravy (e.g., sausages in gravy)To be on the gravy trainVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The gravy train (a source of easy money)”
- “Everything else is gravy (everything extra is a bonus)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Informal: 'The new contract is pure gravy for the company.'
Academic
Rare, except in historical/culinary studies.
Everyday
Very common: discussing meals, describing an unexpected benefit.
Technical
Culinary arts: specific techniques for making roux-based or reduction gravies.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He's just gravy-ing his way through life, never doing a proper day's work. (slang, very rare)
American English
- After the deal closed, they were gravy-ing for weeks. (slang, very rare)
adjective
British English
- That's a proper gravy Sunday dinner. (noun used attributively)
American English
- He's got a gravy job with minimal hours. (slang)
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I like gravy on my mashed potatoes.
- Can you pass the gravy, please?
- The cook made a delicious gravy from the chicken juices.
- Getting a tax refund felt like free gravy.
- The gravy was too thin, so she added a bit of cornflour to thicken it.
- The bonus wasn't part of the contract; it was just gravy.
- His role in the merger was marginal, so the huge payout was essentially gravy.
- The chef demonstrated how to deglaze the pan to create a rich, flavourful gravy.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a GRAY train (sounds like 'gravy train') carrying money easily down the tracks, or a GRAY V-shaped boat (gravy boat) full of sauce.
Conceptual Metaphor
EXTRA BENEFIT IS A SAUCE (i.e., something that enhances the main, more substantial thing).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating the figurative sense as 'соус' (sauce), which is only literal. For 'easy money,' use idioms like 'лёгкие деньги' or 'халява' (colloquial).
Common Mistakes
- Using 'gravy' to mean any sauce (e.g., tomato gravy is a specific regional usage, not standard). Confusing 'gravy boat' (serving dish) with an actual boat.
Practice
Quiz
In the idiom 'the gravy train', what does 'gravy' metaphorically represent?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Traditionally, yes, but vegetarian and vegan gravies made from mushrooms, vegetables, or plant-based stocks are common.
Yes, when referring to 'the gravy train', it can imply that someone is profiting without deserving it, carrying a negative connotation.
It is a boat-shaped pitcher or dish specifically designed for serving gravy at the table.
No, it is informal and best suited for casual conversation rather than formal writing.