“Elephant in the Room” Meaning, Origin and Examples

You may have heard someone use the phrase ‘the elephant in the room’ and wondered what on earth they were talking about. We are going to take a look at the meaning of this saying and where it derived from. We will also look at how you can use this phrase in a conversation.

“Elephant in the Room” Meaning, Origin and Usage

Key Takeaways

  • The phrase “elephant in the room” refers to an obvious problem or issue that everyone is aware of but chooses to ignore or avoid discussing, often because it is uncomfortable or embarrassing. It suggests that something significant is being overlooked despite its clear presence, much like an elephant would be impossible to miss if it were in the same room.
Elephant in the Room
Elephant in the Room – Created by 7ESL

“Elephant in the Room” Meaning

The phrase “elephant in the room” refers to a significant or obvious problem, issue, or topic that is being ignored or not addressed, despite its obviousness to everyone involved. It suggests that while everyone is aware of the issue, they are reluctant to discuss it, often because it is uncomfortable or sensitive.

Examples:

  • “During the meeting, we all knew there was tension between the two departments, but nobody wanted to address the elephant in the room.”
  • “The elephant in the room was the company’s declining sales, but the CEO only talked about future projects.”

Origin of This Idiom

The earliest written recording of this term in the sense it is used today was in 1952 in the Charleston gazette and referred to an Indian saying. The term was then used in a book from the 1980s aimed at children of alcoholics and how they might discuss the ‘elephant in the room.’

Usage of “Elephant in the Room”

In a business meeting:

  • “We need to address the elephant in the room—our sales have dropped by 20% this quarter, and we need a plan to fix it.”

In a family setting:

  • “Everyone was talking about the holiday plans, but no one wanted to mention the elephant in the room—Dad losing his job.”

In a social situation:

  • “The tension was palpable at the party, with the elephant in the room being Sarah’s breakup that everyone knew about but no one dared to discuss.”

In politics:

  • “The elephant in the room during the debate was the candidate’s controversial past, which neither side seemed willing to bring up.”

Related Terms to “Elephant in the Room”

  • Unspoken issue – a problem that is acknowledged but not openly discussed.
  • Taboo topic – a subject that is avoided in conversation due to its sensitive nature.
  • Sensitive subject – a topic that may provoke strong emotions or discomfort.
  • Obvious problem – a clear issue that everyone recognizes but no one wants to confront.
  • Glaring omission – something significant that has been intentionally left out or ignored.
  • Inconvenient truth – a fact that is uncomfortable or difficult to accept but needs acknowledgment.
  • Undiscussed concern – an issue that remains unaddressed despite its importance.
  • Weighty matter – a serious topic that carries significant implications but is being overlooked.
  • Neglected problem – an issue that has not received the attention it deserves.
  • Crisis in plain sight – a significant problem that is obvious but not actively dealt with.

Other Ways to Say the Phrase

There are plenty of ways in which you might refer to an ‘elephant in the room.’ Some of the other ways you might say this could be like the following examples.

  • A sore point
  • Gorilla in the room
  • An ignored issue
  • Avoided problem

“Elephant in the Room” Examples

Example Sentences

You might use this saying to describe the atmosphere in a room when there is a difficult topic of conversation that nobody wants to talk about. For example, you might say something along the lines of

  • ‘It was so awkward at Charles’ house this morning, the huge bruise on his head was a massive elephant in the room, I had to leave in the end, it was so difficult.’

You could also use the term to ask if an uncomfortable topic is going to be discussed. You could say

  • ‘So, are we going to talk about the elephant in the room?’

Conversation Examples

If you are curious about how this phrase would fit into a day to day conversation, here are some examples of how it would sound.

Conversation 1:

  • Person 1: “We have come to this meeting to discuss a number of things.”
  • Person 2: “Yes, we need to talk about finances, profit and budgeting.”
  • Person 1: “And I will start the conversation about the elephant in the room now so that it is out of the way.”

Conversation 2:

  • Person 1: “Are you coming to dinner tonight?”
  • Person 2: “That depends on whether we are going to discuss the elephant in the room first.”
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