gravy plane trip
n.— «O’Mahoney opposed the flight pay amendment. Senator Douglas (D-Ill) who sponsored the amendment, declared it was aimed at removing “gravy plane trips” for airmen who go up only for the bonus pay and would save 100 million dollars a year. » —Galveston News (Texas) Sept. 14, 1951. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
Mick in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, shares that a co-worker from Texas used to advise him when lifting heavy objects to heave carefully because You don’t want to strain your milk. The origin of this expression is uncertain, although it may...
John in Dallas, Texas, wonders about the phrase Hail fellow well met. This expression combines two old phrases. The first is hail, fellow!, once a warm casual greeting. To be hail fellow with someone meant “to be on friendly terms with”...