elephant in the room

a major problem or controversial issue that is present but is ignored or not discussed because it is uncomfortable to do so

el·e·phant

E0084800 (ĕl′ə-fənt) n. 1. Any of several very large herbivorous mammals of the family Elephantidae native to Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia, having thick, almost hairless skin, a long, flexible, prehensile trunk, upper incisors forming long curved tusks of ivory, and, in the African species, large fan-shaped ears. 2. Any of various extinct animals of the family Elephantidae. Idiom: elephant in the room A matter or problem that is obvious or of great importance but that is not discussed openly.

[Middle English elefaunt, from Old French elefant, from Latin elephantus, from Greek elephās, elephant-, ivory, elephant, probably of Afro-Asiatic origin; akin to Tawllemet (Berber language of Mali) eləw and Mokilko (Chadic language of central Chad) 'êlbi, elephant, and possibly also to Egyptian 3bw, elephant, ivory, and Oromo arba, elephant.]

(the) 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.See also: elephant, room

elephant in the room

A matter or problem that is obvious or of great importance but that is not discussed openly.See also: elephant, room

elephant in the room, an

An extremely obvious circumstance that can hardly be overlooked. Jo Bannister used it in Liars All (2009), “She hadn’t told Paddy how serious Jonathan’s condition was . . . But it was like an elephant in the drawing room; Paddy didn’t need pointing it out to know it was there.” And Lindsay Coates’s column about Haiti’s lack of land rights slowing recovery from the devastating earthquake was headlined: “Land Tenure: Haiti’s Elephant in the Room” (Huffington Post, July 21, 2010). See also seen the elephant.See also: elephant

单词	elephant in the room
释义	elephant in the room elephant in the room a major problem or controversial issue that is present but is ignored or not discussed because it is uncomfortable to do so el·e·phant E0084800 (ĕl′ə-fənt) n. 1. Any of several very large herbivorous mammals of the family Elephantidae native to Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia, having thick, almost hairless skin, a long, flexible, prehensile trunk, upper incisors forming long curved tusks of ivory, and, in the African species, large fan-shaped ears. 2. Any of various extinct animals of the family Elephantidae. *Idiom:* *elephant in the room* A matter or problem that is obvious or of great importance but that is not discussed openly. [Middle English `elefaunt`, from Old French `elefant`, from Latin `elephantus`, from Greek `elephās`, `elephant-`, ivory, elephant, probably of Afro-Asiatic origin; akin to Tawllemet (Berber language of Mali) `eləw` and Mokilko (Chadic language of central Chad) `'êlbi`, elephant, and possibly also to Egyptian `3bw`, elephant, ivory, and Oromo `arba`, elephant.] elephant in the room (the) 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.See also: elephant, room elephant in the room A matter or problem that is obvious or of great importance but that is not discussed openly.See also: elephant, room elephant in the room, an An extremely obvious circumstance that can hardly be overlooked. Jo Bannister used it in Liars All (2009), “She hadn’t told Paddy how serious Jonathan’s condition was . . . But it was like an elephant in the drawing room; Paddy didn’t need pointing it out to know it was there.” And Lindsay Coates’s column about Haiti’s lack of land rights slowing recovery from the devastating earthquake was headlined: “Land Tenure: Haiti’s Elephant in the Room” (Huffington Post, July 21, 2010). See also seen the elephant.See also: elephant
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