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UKWhite elephant
/wˈaɪt ˈɛlɪfənt/
/wˈaɪt ˈɛlɪfənt/White elephant
[NOUN]1
a thing that is of no value or use because it is excessively expensive to keep it in a good condition
What 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.
Examples
1. Some original Old West saloons, like the White Elephant in Texas and Silver Dollar Saloon in Colorado, still stand today.
2. Or, you can change the rules and make it a White Elephant gift exchange, where all of the gifts are bad and everyone hates what they got.
3. If you're in America, I think it's called Yankee Swap or White Elephant, so there are lots of games where everyone brings a present to a party and then you know it's a bit of fun sharing those presents around.
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