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- DictionaryThe 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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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]
: an obvious major problem or issue that people avoid discussing or acknowledging. Examples of elephant in the room in a Sentence. Recent Examples on the Web Age is the elephant in the room in the 2024 election, said Veronica Jones, a county commissioner in North Carolina.
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
What's the origin of the phrase 'The elephant in the room'? The expression is of US origin, although the precise source isn’t known. The meaning, if not the exact wording, dates from at least the 1950s and is possibly some years older than that.
What Does Elephant in the Room Mean? We all use the phrase “elephant in the room” to describe a situation or an issue that’s pretty obvious or noticeable, but it’s not being addressed or discussed the way it should be.
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.
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!
elephant in the room. An obvious truth or fact, especially one regarded as embarrassing or undesirable, that is being intentionally ignored or left unaddressed. We all sat sipping our tea quietly, no one wanting to bring up the elephant in the room about Joel's expulsion from college.
elephant in the room. An obvious truth or fact, especially one regarded as embarrassing or undesirable, that is being intentionally ignored or left unaddressed. We all sat sipping our tea quietly, no one wanting to bring up the elephant in the room about Joel's expulsion from college.
a problem or issue that everyone is aware of but that no one wants to talk about: Her dad’s depression has been the elephant in the room at family gatherings. Discover More.
