The elephant in the room
The elephant in the room
A major problem or controversial issue that is obviously present but ignored.
A major problem or controversial issue that is obviously present but ignored.The phrase 'the elephant in the room' refers to a significant, obvious problem or issue that everyone is aware of but no one wants to discuss because it is uncomfortable or potentially embarrassing. The 'elephant' symbolizes something that is hard to overlook; yet, people choose to bypass it, pretending it doesn't exist. The idiom highlights the human tendency to avoid difficult conversations, even when the issue at hand is large and impactful enough to affect everyone in the 'room', or in this context, the situation or relationship.
The phrase 'the elephant in the room' refers to a significant, obvious problem or issue that everyone is aware of but no one wants to discuss because it is uncomfortable or potentially embarrassing. The 'elephant' symbolizes something that is hard to overlook; yet, people choose to bypass it, pretending it doesn't exist. The idiom highlights the human tendency to avoid difficult conversations, even when the issue at hand is large and impactful enough to affect everyone in the 'room', or in this context, the situation or relationship.
Use cases
When the team meeting began to discuss budget cuts, the manager's recent firing became the elephant in the room.
At the reunion, nobody mentioned Sarah's absence, making it the elephant in the room, given her dramatic exit from the group years ago.
During the negotiations, both parties avoided discussing the layoffs, which was the elephant in the room.
Even though everyone knew about Tom's failing grades, it was the elephant in the room during the parent-teacher conference.
The fact that the bride and groom had separated once before was the elephant in the room at their wedding.
At the therapy session, the counselor pointed out that the couple's lack of trust was the elephant in the room.
In the boardroom, the CEO’s impending retirement was the elephant in the room that no one wanted to address.
The unsolved issue of inheritance was the elephant in the room at the family gathering.
Everyone avoided talking about the recent scandal in the community, making it the elephant in the room at the meeting.
The team avoided discussing their leader's noticeable absence, which had become the elephant in the room.
