Idioms

the elephant in the room

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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. The incident has remained something of an elephant in the room within our family. I know my impending divorce is the elephant in the room, so let's talk about it, huh? We can start with my stupidity in not signing a pre-nup!
See also: elephant, room
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

the ˌelephant in the ˈroom

a serious problem that everyone is aware of but which they ignore and choose not to mention: The growing budget deficit is the elephant in the room that nobody wants to talk about.
See also: elephant, room
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
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References in periodicals archive
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One bishop called the sexuality issue "the elephant in the room," because it was never on the agenda and was discussed only informally in a hotel hospitality suite.
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A composer once asked me, 'How do you deal with the elephant in the room?' For the composer, it's Wagner.
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