A literal elephant in a room, attending a Sydney tea party in 1939. The metaphorical elephant in the room represents an obvious problem or difficult situation that people do not want to talk about. [1]

Mar 28, 2025 · The meaning of ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM is an obvious major problem or issue that people avoid discussing or acknowledging.

If you say there is an elephant in the room, you mean that there is an obvious problem or difficult situation that people do not want to talk about. I don't want to ask the question, but it is the big elephant in the room. The elephant in the room no one wanted to see was money.

We all use the phrase “elephant in the room” to describe a situation or an issue that’s pretty obvious or noticeable, but it’s not being addressed or discussed the way it should be. Like when you know two friends in your friend’s group are fighting but are super quiet when among everyone.

Meaning: 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. Example: Jim arrived at work and his clothes were soaking wet! He was scheduled for a business meeting that was starting any moment, so not wanting to be late, he walked in and took a seat as if …

What's the meaning of the phrase 'The elephant in the room'? An important and obvious topic, which everyone present is aware of, but which isn’t discussed, as such discussion is considered to be uncomfortable.

The idiom ‘elephant in the room’ is a vivid expression used to highlight an obvious and significant issue or problem that everyone is deliberately ignoring or avoiding.

The idiom “the elephant in the room” is a metaphor for a difficult or unpleasant topic that is obvious to everyone but is being ignored. The phrase is often used to describe a situation where people are reluctant to discuss a problem or issue because it is too sensitive or controversial.

Apr 9, 2025 · Elephant in the room. What it means: Imagine a giant elephant just standing there in the middle of the room while everyone awkwardly pretends it doesn’t exist. That’s the essence of this idiom. It means when there’s a very big, obvious issue or …

Mar 15, 2025 · The idiom “Elephant in the Room” is commonly used to describe a situation or topic that is glaringly obvious but deliberately avoided or ignored. It refers to a significant issue or problem that everyone is aware of, yet no one wants to acknowledge or discuss openly.