elephant in the room

[el-uh-fuhnt in thuh room, room]

idiom

1. 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.

Word History and Origins

Origin of elephant in the room¹

First recorded in 1935–40

Example Sentences

But before we confront the gender elephant in the room, it’s necessary to explore why Greene is actually doing a lot of smart things.

From Salon

Now, his own commerce secretary has upended the administration’s strategy of evasion, which has at times been quite effective, by naming the elephant in the room — or, in this case, on the National Mall.

From Salon

Councillor Groucutt, who previously had responsibility for education in Monmouthshire, described school attendance as the "elephant in the room" at a council scrutiny meeting.

From BBC

Supervisor Holly Mitchell said she wanted to highlight the racial disparity of outcomes in Altadena, an issue she called the “elephant in the room” and one that was not mentioned in the report.

From Los Angeles Times

“A large elephant in the room is being ignored, and that’s genetics.”

From Los Angeles Times