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White elephant
01
a possession that is costly to maintain and difficult to dispose of, often more trouble than it is worth
IdiomWhat is the origin of the idiom "white elephant" and when to use it?
The idiom "white elephant" comes from Southeast Asian traditions, where owning a sacred white elephant was a mark of prestige—but the animal couldn't be put to work and required expensive upkeep. Kings would sometimes gift one to a rival as a financial burden.
Examples
The software upgrade was a white elephant — flashy but impractical.
The luxury yacht turned out to be a white elephant, draining their finances.
02
a rare, pale-colored elephant, often considered sacred in certain cultures, especially in Southeast Asia
Examples
The king regarded the white elephant as a symbol of prosperity.
A white elephant was gifted to the temple as a sacred offering.
