What Does There S An Elephant In The Room Mean

The expression elephant in the room usually 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 or is personally socially or politically.

What does there s an elephant in the room mean.

Definitions by the largest idiom dictionary. Expanding on the first answer. What does the elephant in the room expression mean. The expression is of us origin although the precise source isn t known.

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. A very large issue that everyone is acutely aware of but nobody wants to talk about. Jim arrived at work and his clothes were soaking wet. It effects what is going on at the time too because who cares about increasing productivity if they are going to be fired.

The meaning if not the exact wording dates from at least the 1950s and is possibly some years older than that. Verifyerrors message verifyerrors. That is the elephant in the room no one is discussing it but it s on everyone s minds. What s the origin of the phrase the elephant in the room.

We re all avoiding the elephant in the room is an expression used to acknowledge that there is a serious issue or problem that is being ignored in the discussion usually a discussion that involves problem solving or decision making. If the issue terrifies people they will talk. Jim arrived at work and his clothes were soaking wet. The elephant in the room refers to a large issue of some kind which makes everyone uncomfortable.

An elephant in the room definition. There s an elephant in the room and nobody mentions it means that something big happened everyone knows it happened but nobody talks about it. They all just stand there awkwardly like everything is ok. But if it embarrasses most people there it isn t.

Perhaps a sore spot perhaps politically incorrect or perhaps a political hot potato it s something that no one wants to touch with a. Definition of the elephant in the room in the idioms dictionary.