Elephant in the room
/ˈɛl.ɪ.fənt ɪn ðə ˈruːm/
idiomatic noun phrase
Origin
English
elephant — a large mammal, metaphorically used for something massive and impossible to miss
Overview
Meaning Now
- An obvious major problem or controversial issue that is present but intentionally ignored by everyone in the room.
Language path
English
Earliest form
elephant in the room
Earliest period
19th century
Journey
The idiom relies on the absurdity of a physical elephant in a small space; if it were present, it would be impossible to ignore, making the refusal to acknowledge the 'elephant' an act of profound social denial.
Evolution
- 1814
The Inquisitive Man
“A character ignores the elephant in the museum while noticing tiny insects.”
Attributed to Ivan Krylov; an early conceptual parallel.
- 1935
elephant in the room
“Used in the Wilkes-Barre Record to describe an unavoidable problem.”
Documented citation of the modern idiom.
Connections
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External references use DefinedTerm semantics.