GOOD SAMARITAN, GRASP AT STRAWS, GRAVY TRAIN: American English Idioms #104

GOOD SAMARITAN

The phrase, “Good Samaritan” is often used as a metaphor to describe someone who is helpful and does good actions for others. The Good Samaritan was kind unto the man that had fallen among thieves and even helped him financially. It can also be used as a noun that means a person who helps others and takes the time to care for those in need of support.

The Good Samaritan is a biblical story about a man who showed mercy to someone in need. In the story, a traveler from Jerusalem falls victim to robbers and is left for dead on the side of the road. A priest and a Levite see him lying there, but neither one helps him for fear that they may be robbed as well. Finally, a Samaritan man stops to help the traveler.

The idiom “Good Samaritan” is a metaphor that refers to an individual who helps somebody in need despite the fact that he or she may not be related to this person, does not owe him or her any money, does not have any personal ties with him or her, and is not obligated to help. This is often used as a criticism of certain people who are unwilling to help others.

The term “Good Samaritan” is often used to describe an individual who has an altruistic motive and helps someone in need. This person does not have to be religiously affiliated with Christianity nor proselytize any religious teachings. The term is used to illustrate humanity and the intense power that it holds.

GRASP AT STRAWS

The phrase “grasp at straws” is most often used in the context of weak or unsuccessful attempts to find a solution. The person or group doing it has tried everything else, and is left with few choices. It can also be used in an argument when someone tries to make their point even when they have no evidence to support it.

The idiom, to grasp at straws, means to look for a solution in a desperate manner, as if grasping at straws floating on the sea. Explanation: In this idiom people are looking for a solution to their problems by trying every idea that they can think of.

A phrase that means to grasp at straws is a metaphor that suggests that the person is desperate and grasping for anything to save themselves. This can be used as an idiom when someone is trying to reassure themselves by grasping on hopes of the future.

The idiom “grasping at straws” is used to describe a last ditch effort to try and save hope. It describes the act of trying to find something, even if it is unlikely, that may turn around a situation or make everything okay. The phrase can be used in many contexts, but usually refers to someone trying anything to keep hope alive. This phrase is often used if people are frustrated with their current situation and are holding out for something better to come along.

The phrase “grasping at straws” is used when someone has lost all hope and is grasping at the smallest of chances to find a solution. It implies that they are grasping for any possible avenue in order to survive or succeed. This phrase originated from the idea that if one was drowning, they would take hold of any piece of straw that floated by them in order to stay afloat and live.

GRAVY TRAIN

A “gravy train” is a metaphor for an occupation that can be very lucrative. Sometimes, this term is used as a metaphorical insult, such as in the sentence: “She’s just on the gravy train and doesn’t want to work.” The phrase “gravy train” originated in railroad terminology, with trains carrying gravy or other food products.

A “gravy train” is an easy way of earning money for little work. This idiom comes from the phrase “riding the gravy train.” A “gravy train” can refer to any long-term activity that is profitable, but requires little effort. The origin of the phrase comes from how freight trains were at one time used to transport gravy, which was not perishable.

A gravy train is an idiom describing a situation in which someone has an opportunity to make substantial amounts of money or receive substantial benefits with very little effort. The origin of this phrase is unknown, but it may be based on the often-used metaphor of life as a train in which the people in the back cars have to work harder to supply power for those closer to the front.

The phrase “Gravy Train” is often used to describe the state of being in an enviable position, usually one in which you are reaping many benefits. The idiom describes the idea of having a situation where one can’t lose no matter what they do. This could be because everything seems to go right for them, or they have a position where they are insulated from any negative outcomes.