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elephant in the room

American

[el-uh-fuhnt in thuh room, room] / ˈɛl ə fənt ɪn ðə ˈrum, ˈrʊm /

idiom

a problem or issue that everyone is aware of but that no one wants to talk about.

Her dad’s depression has been the elephant in the room at family gatherings.

Etymology

Origin of elephant in the room

First recorded in 1935–40

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Sometimes, the letter writer may be asking the wrong question about the right problem, or they could be ignoring the elephant in the room.

From MarketWatch • May 11, 2026

But by not actually addressing the elephant in the room, “Michael” does the opposite, making its subject look like a bona fide creep.

From Salon • Apr. 25, 2026

The elephant in the room for the Lakers as they enter the playoffs has been, and will continue to be, the status of their starting backcourt, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 17, 2026

And Chris Birt of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation says the "elephant in the room" is what he calls the lack of any serious plans to reform the "regressive" council tax.

From BBC • Apr. 11, 2026

Everywhere I go, I feel like the elephant in the room.

From "The Running Dream" by Wendelin Van Draanen

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023