the elephant in the room
Say it: the EL-uh-funt in the room /ði ˈɛlɪfənt ɪn ðə ˈruːm/ · idiom
What “the elephant in the room” means
A big, obvious problem that nobody wants to mention.
More precisely: An obvious, uncomfortable problem that everyone is avoiding talking about.
Example: “The budget cuts were the elephant in the room at the team offsite.”
When to use it
When everyone avoids the one thing that really matters. To face it: “Let's talk about the elephant in the room.”
Similar words
unspoken issue, taboo subject
Quick check
At dinner everyone chats about the weather, but nobody mentions that Dad just lost his job. That's…
the elephant in the room or breaking the ice?
Show the answer
the elephant in the room
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