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  1. Dictionary
    The elephant in the room
    • ▪ a major problem or controversial issue that is obviously present but avoided as a subject for discussion because it is more comfortable to do so

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    • Obvious problem

      • 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.
      dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

      AN ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM - Cambridge English Dictionary

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  4. dictionary.cambridge.org › elephant-in-the-roomAN ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM - Cambridge English Dictionary

    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 (heavy) cross to bear idiom. abyss.

  5. www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › elephant inElephant in the room Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

    Apr 18, 2024 · The meaning of ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM is an obvious major problem or issue that people avoid discussing or acknowledging.

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  7. en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Elephant_in_the_roomElephant in the room - Wikipedia

    The expression "the elephant in the room" (or "the elephant in the living room") is a metaphorical idiom in English for an important or enormous topic, question, or controversial issue that is obvious or that everyone knows about but no one mentions or wants to discuss because it makes at least some of them uncomfortable and is personally ...

  8. www.phrases.org.uk › meanings › elephant-in-the-roomThe Elephant In The Room - Meaning & Origin Of The Phrase

    The meaning, if not the exact wording, dates from at least the 1950s and is possibly some years older than that. The first reference to the phrase that I have found is in The Charleston Gazette, July 1952: “Chicago, that’s an old Indian word meaning get that elephant out of your room.”.

  9. grammarist.com › idiom › elephant-in-the-roomElephant in the Room - Idiom, Meaning & Origin - GRAMMARIST

    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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  10. knowyourphrase.com › elephant-in-the-roomElephant in the Room - The Idiom's Meaning and Origin

    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!

  11. www.dictionary.com › browse › elephant-in-the-roomELEPHANT IN THE ROOM Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

    Elephant in the room definition: a problem or issue that everyone is aware of but that no one wants to talk about. See examples of ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM used in a sentence.

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