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A literal elephant in a room, attending a Sydney tea party in 1939. The metaphorical elephant in the room represents an obvious problem or difficult situation that people do not want to talk about. [1]
If you say there is an elephant in the room, you mean that there is an obvious problem or difficult situation that people do not want to talk about. SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases. Difficult situations and unpleasant experiences. a hard/tough row to hoe idiom. abyss.
- What Does 'The Elephant in The Room' Mean?
- Where Does 'The Elephant in The Room' Come from?
- Examples of 'The Elephant in The Room' in Sentences
- Final Thoughts About 'The Elephant in The Room'
‘The elephant in the room’is an idiom that refers to a difficult issue or problem that is incredibly obvious but that is ignored for the comfort or convenience of the individuals that are involved. 1. It is commonly used todescribe controversial issues, questions, or topics that are large in scope and well-known by everyone but never discussed beca...
Unlike many idioms, the history of ‘the elephant in the room’as an idiom is fairly clear. 1. The first iteration of the phrase is from the fable written by Ivan Krylov titled “The Inquisitive Man.” This story is about a man that notices all kinds of small objects in a museum he visits but somehow doesn’t notice the elephant. After this fable, the n...
How would 'the elephant in the room'be used in a sentence? Let’s take a look at some examples: 1. “She has long been the only one brave enough to point out the elephant in the roomwhen there is a topic that everyone is afraid to bring up.” 2. “As an amateur in the industry, he didn’t realize that by bringing up the controversial subject, he was cal...
‘The elephant in the room’ is an idiom that describes something that everyone is aware of but no one is willing to bring up or discuss. 1. This might be because the idea is controversial, difficult, or embarrassing. Are you ready to learn more English phrases and expand your vocabulary? Be sure to check out our idioms blogfor idioms, expressions, s...
When there’s an ‘elephant in the room,’ it implies the existence of a large, noticeable concern that is being overlooked, often due to discomfort, fear, or a collective decision to avoid addressing it. The idiom draws attention to the need for open and honest communication about unspoken issues.
Whether you call it an “elephant in the room” or a “white elephant in the room,” the meaning is pretty much the same. At least, the intent is. It represents a problem or issue causing discomfort or difficulty that needs to be addressed but is probably ignored because no one wants to deal with it.
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The phrase “elephant in the room” refers to a problem or issue that everyone knows about but no one wants to talk about. It’s not just any problem or issue, but specifically one that is being ignored or avoided.
Meaning: If there is an elephant in the room, it means that an obvious problem is being ignored. Put another way, it is a noticeable issue that is not acknowledged or addressed. Example: Jim arrived at work and his clothes were soaking wet!
