(the) elephant in the room



Like this video? Subscribe to our free daily email and get a new idiom video every day!

(the) elephant in the room

An obvious truth or fact, especially one regarded as embarrassing or undesirable, that is being intentionally ignored or left unaddressed. We all sat sipping our tea quietly; no one wanting to bring up the elephant in the room about Joel's expulsion from college.
See also: elephant, room

Common Names:

NameGenderPronouncedUsage
Augustinas-Lithuanian
InnaEE-nah (Russian)Russian, Ukrainian
MaikeMIE-kə (German)Frisian, German
HildebrandHIL-de-brahnt (German)German (Archaic), Ancient Germanic
LubomÍR-Czech
HrÓArr-Ancient Scandinavian