Search
Select the dictionary language
White elephant
01
a possession that is costly to maintain and difficult to dispose of, often more trouble than it is worth
Idiom
Grammatical Information
Animacy status
Inanimate
Composition
Compound
Countable
Plural form
white elephants
What 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 old mansion became a white elephant after the owner could not afford the repairs.
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.
