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White elephant
01
biały słoń, kosztowny ale bezużyteczny przedmiot
a thing that is of no value or use because it is excessively expensive to keep it in a good condition
IdiomWhat is the origin of the idiom "white elephant" and when to use it?
The idiom "white elephant" traces its origin back to ancient Southeast Asia, where white elephants were considered sacred and were often owned by monarchs or held as a symbol of high status and prestige. It is used to describe something that is expensive to maintain, burdensome, or impractical, often referring to a possession or project that has little value or benefit.
02
biały słoń, słoń albinos
albinic Indian elephant; rare and sometimes venerated in east Asia
white elephant
n
Przykład
The grand mansion they inherited turned out to be a white elephant, requiring extensive repairs and high maintenance costs.
The new software system, despite its promising features, proved to be a white elephant for the company due to constant glitches and compatibility issues.
The country's political instability was the white elephant in the room at the international summit, but no one wanted to risk diplomatic relations by discussing it openly.
