How to use Idiom “The elephant in the room” in English? Examples and tips from Grammar Experts
Idiom “The elephant in the room” refers to a major issue or problem that everyone is aware of but avoids discussing. Imagine a huge elephant standing in a room that everyone ignores — that’s what this idiom symbolizes.
Prehistory of the Idiom
The phrase “the elephant in the room” likely originated in the 20th century, based on the idea of something large and obvious that people choose not to acknowledge. It’s a metaphor for an uncomfortable truth that is being ignored.
Short Advice
Use this idiom when you want to describe an obvious problem or issue that people are reluctant to talk about. It’s a powerful way to highlight unspoken but significant issues.
Examples of Using “The elephant in the room” in Sentences:
- “We need to address the elephant in the room — our declining sales.” — We must talk about the obvious issue of declining sales.
- “Everyone was avoiding the elephant in the room: the budget cuts.” — No one wanted to discuss the significant issue of budget cuts.
- “The elephant in the room was his recent dismissal from the company.” — The obvious issue no one wanted to mention was his dismissal.
- “They talked about everything except the elephant in the room: the pending lawsuit.” — They avoided discussing the significant issue of the lawsuit.
- “It’s time we acknowledge the elephant in the room and address our poor communication.” — We need to talk about our obvious communication problems.
- “The elephant in the room during the meeting was the upcoming merger.” — The significant but unmentioned issue was the merger.
- “Everyone ignored the elephant in the room: the company’s financial troubles.” — They avoided discussing the obvious financial issues.
- “The elephant in the room was the unresolved conflict between the team members.” — The major issue of team conflict was being ignored.
- “They pretended everything was fine, ignoring the elephant in the room: their failing relationship.” — They avoided discussing their obvious relationship issues.
- “We can’t keep ignoring the elephant in the room; let’s talk about our debts.” — We need to discuss the significant issue of our debts.
- “The elephant in the room was the fact that he was not qualified for the job.” — The obvious but unmentioned issue was his lack of qualifications.
- “The elephant in the room was the manager’s upcoming resignation.” — The significant issue everyone avoided discussing was the resignation.
- “They finally addressed the elephant in the room: the layoffs.” — They talked about the obvious issue of layoffs.
- “Ignoring the elephant in the room won’t solve anything; we need to discuss the project’s delays.” — We must address the significant issue of delays.
- “The elephant in the room was the lack of trust among team members.” — The major but unspoken issue was the lack of trust.
Confront Issues in Learning
In your English learning journey, don’t ignore the elephant in the room — address any challenges you face head-on.
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This advice helps you face and overcome challenges in your learning journey.
About the Author
For more practical tips and personal stories about learning English, visit the Bear In The Dark Dev Blog. I share my experiences and insights to help make your English learning journey as effective and enjoyable as possible.
Keep learning, and don’t ignore the elephant in the room!
