English · Work & Business
the elephant in the room
/ði ˈel.ɪ.fənt ɪn ðə ruːm/
[/ði ˈel.ɪ.fənt ɪn ðə ruːm/]
obvious unspoken issue
Intermediatephrase
Definition
An obvious major problem that everyone is aware of but no one wants to discuss.
Example
Nobody mentioned the company's debts at the meeting; it was the elephant in the room all afternoon.
Nobody mentioned the company's debts at the meeting; it was the elephant in the room all afternoon.
Etymology
A 20th-century phrase using the absurd image of ignoring something as large as an elephant indoors.
How & Where It’s Used
Common for naming an obvious issue that everyone avoids.