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.

Nor did he make any mention of the elephant in the room - or any room the Beckhams set foot in - the recent family drama involving his estranged older brother Brooklyn.

From BBC

I ask, summoning the courage to address the elephant in the room.

From Literature

While these tech companies were booming as the use of smartphones and apps proliferated, she felt there was an elephant in the room.

From BBC

Party members who spoke to the BBC said the speech was well received, praising it for sticking to traditional Conservative messaging while also confronting separatism — what one member called "the elephant in the room".

From BBC

"The elephant in the room is the money," a senior figure says.

From BBC

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