elephant in the room
Meaning
An obvious problem or sensitive issue that everyone is aware of but avoids discussing.
Origin
Popularized in 20th-century English from the idea that a huge elephant would be impossible to miss, yet people might pretend not to see it to avoid discomfort or conflict.
Notes
Often mildly critical or ironic: it implies avoidance, discomfort, or denial. Common in meetings, media, and daily talk when urging people to address an obvious issue.
Examples
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During the meeting, no one mentioned the elephant in the room: our sales have been falling for months.
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We kept talking about logistics, but the elephant in the room was that we didn’t have enough money to finish the project.
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At dinner, everyone avoided the elephant in the room—why Mark suddenly quit his job.
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The elephant in the room is that the merger could lead to layoffs, even if management won’t say it.
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She tried to lighten the mood, but the elephant in the room was the unresolved argument between them.
Grammar & Usage Notes
Usually used with the definite article: “the elephant in the room.” Often follows “address/ignore/avoid,” or “X is the elephant in the room.” Sometimes plural: “elephants in the room.”
Synonyms
- the unspoken issue
- the obvious problem
- the elephant in the corner
- the taboo topic
Antonyms
- address the issue
- face the facts
- deal with it head-on