phrase🎓 English idiom

the elephant in the room

an obvious problem everyone avoids discussing

What it means

An obvious, serious problem or sensitive topic that everyone is aware of but deliberately avoids discussing. The image is of something far too big to ignore, yet politely left unmentioned.

Examples

  • Nobody mentioned the layoffs, but they were the elephant in the room.
  • Let's finally address the elephant in the room: are we over budget?
  • Their divorce was the elephant in the room at every family dinner.
  • Someone had to name the elephant in the room and ask about the debt.

Where it comes from

A 20th-century expression that became widespread later in the century, built on the absurd image of an enormous animal that people somehow pretend not to notice.

Related idioms

#a hot potato#the tip of the iceberg#right under your nose#turn a blind eye

🎓 Think you know your idioms?

Take the English Idioms Test — 20 terms, instant result, no signup.

Take the test

Built by the team behind Deep In.