proverb · Words worth keeping
An elephant in the room.
An elephant in the room.
Historical period not yet established
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
The phrase pictures an elephant in a room as a conspicuous concern that people avoid discussing. It contrasts an obvious presence with collective silence.
What the words are saying
The oversized figure makes avoidance striking rather than describing a literal animal indoors. A useful application can name a relevant unresolved question respectfully. The phrase does not prove that everyone recognises the issue or owes an immediate public disclosure.
Everyday example
A group raises an unresolved practical question that its recent discussions have repeatedly skipped.
When to use it
Use it to discuss a relevant avoided concern with context and care.
What it does not mean
An issue’s relevance and others’ awareness still need checking.
Agent-assisted editorial interpretation. This explains the words; it does not by itself verify their author or earliest origin.
Attribution & collection notes
- Author or tradition
- Traditional
Attribution: traditional - Country attributed
- Not established
A country attribution does not establish the earliest origin. - Historical period
- Historical period not yet established
No sufficiently supported historical placement has been established. Import and download dates are not treated as composition dates. - Recorded source
- Contributor-provided proverb reference
Supplied reference A; unit 297; PDF page 46
A collection's publication date can be later than the words it records.