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elephant in the room
01
an obvious issue, problem, or matter that people purposely ignore
Idiom
InformalWhat is the origin of the idiom "elephant in the room" and when to use it?
The idiom "elephant in the room" is believed to have originated in the 19th century. It is thought to have been inspired by a fable by Ivan Krylov, in which a man is so focused on examining small details that he fails to notice an elephant standing in the room. The phrase is used to describe an obvious problem or issue that everyone is aware of but no one wants to talk about.
Example
The family's unspoken tension was the elephant in the room during the holidays, but no one wanted to ruin the festive mood by bringing it up.
The company's financial problems were the elephant in the room at the meeting, but no one wanted to talk about it.
The student's plagiarism was the elephant in the room in the classroom, but the teacher didn't want to embarrass the student in front of the class.
The elephant in the room in the relationship was the issue of trust, but neither partner wanted to have an honest conversation about it.
While everyone else remained silent, he felt a compulsion to point out the elephant in the room.
