What is the meaning of idiom a white elephant?

Today, the term 'white elephant' denotes any burdensome, expensive and useless possession that is much more trouble than it is worth. The origins of the phrase come from Siam (modern-day Thailand).

What is white elephant example?

White-elephant definition

The definition of a white elephant is a possession that is very expensive to maintain, or an article that is no longer wanted by the owner. A family home that you feel you have to keep but that is very expensive to maintain is an example of a white elephant.

What is the sentence of an idiom white elephant?

Pat didn't want his building plans to become a white elephant, so he needed forty of the houses to sell before they started work on site. He invested his savings in the business and it's turned into a white elephant. Soon, I realised that the old car was difficult to maintain and it was like a white elephant.

Where does the idiom white elephant come from?

In the West, the term "white elephant", relating to an expensive burden that fails to meet expectations, was first used in the 17th century and became widespread in the 19th century.

What's another term for white elephant?

In this page you can discover 11 synonyms, antonyms, idiomatic expressions, and related words for white-elephant, like: junk, more trouble than it's worth, burthen, onus, worthless object, clutter, outmoded object, heirloom, albatross, ball-and-chain and burden.

White Elephant Meaning | Most Common English Idioms | #15

What is the meaning of the idiom a white lie?

Definition of white lie

: a lie about a small or unimportant matter that someone tells to avoid hurting another person He told a (little) white lie as his excuse for missing the party.

What is the meaning of phrase white elephant Mcq?

countable noun. If you describe something as a white elephant, you mean that it is a waste of money because it is completely useless. [disapproval] The pavilion has become a £14 million steel and glass white elephant.

What is pink elephant?

Definition of pink elephants

: hallucinations arising especially from heavy drinking or use of narcotics began to see pink elephants.

What does a black elephant mean?

A black elephant is a cross between “a black swan” — an unlikely, unexpected event with enormous ramifications — and the “elephant in the room” — a looming disaster that is visible to everyone, yet no one wants to address."

What does a green elephant mean?

In Asian culture, elephants are thought to represent wisdom, strength, and protection. A raised trunk is considered lucky -- making this little green elephant the perfect mini good luck charm!

What does blue elephant mean?

The Blue Elephant in the Room is a national anti-stigma campaign designed to address the stigma associated with mental Illness. Displaying a blue elephant shows that you care about the wellness of others and demonstrates that this is a safe place to talk about mental illness, without fear of being viewed differently.

Are there white elephants in India?

Elephants, be it grey, brown, or white, is a powerful and beautiful animal. You may have seen the normal brown elephant, but white elephants are rare. No, we are not discussing about the colors of elephants, but using an idiom as White Elephant.

What is the meaning of the idiom couch potato?

Definition of couch potato

: a lazy and inactive person especially : one who spends a great deal of time watching television.

What does the phrase a real white elephant mean in they sold his house because it was a real white elephant?

white elephant: a possession that is useless or troublesome, especially one that is expensive to maintain or difficult to dispose of.

What is the meaning of idiom let the cat out of the bag?

To disclose a secret: “The mayor's visit was to be kept strictly confidential, but someone must have let the cat out of the bag, because the airport was swarming with reporters.”

What does the idiom black sheep mean?

Definition of black sheep

: a disfavored or disreputable member of a group.

What is the meaning of idiom once in a blue moon?

Once in a blue moon: This poetic phrase refers to something extremely rare in occurrence. A blue moon is the term commonly used for a second full moon that occasionally appears in a single month of our solar-based calendars.

What is the meaning of idiom a cold fish?

Britannica Dictionary definition of COLD FISH. [count] : a cold and unfriendly person. She's a lovely person, but her husband's a bit of a cold fish.

What is the meaning of idiom full of beans?

Definition of full of beans

informal. 1 : full of energy and life We were young and full of beans. 2 US : not correct or truthful : full of nonsense If that's what he's been saying, then he's full of beans.

What does the idiom a smart cookie mean?

Meaning of smart cookie in English

a clever person who makes good decisions: He is a smart cookie, adjusting his songs to fit his audiences. You are one smart cookie. More examples. According to her colleagues, Ann is a real smart cookie.

Who goes first in white elephant?

The White Elephant Game Rules

Sit in a circle and place the gifts in the center, preferably under a festive tree. The person who drew #1 selects a gift from the pile, opens it, and holds it up for all to see.

Is there a real white elephant?

A white elephant (also albino elephant) is a rare kind of elephant, but not a distinct species. In Hindu puranas, the god Indra has a white elephant. Although often depicted as snow white, their skin is normally a soft reddish-brown, turning a light pink when wet. They have fair eyelashes and toenails.

Is there white elephant in Earth?

Thailand is known as the land of the white elephant. White elephants are not a distinct species, but rather elephants with unusually light skin.

What does three elephants mean?

I have heard that in Columbia, it is a tradition to have three elephants in a room in order to represent good luck: one you bought, one that was given to you and one that you stole. The statues can be made of all types of materials such as glass, ceramic or even wood.

What is the meaning of elephant with trunk up?

The elephant raises its trunk to greet friends and express happiness. Place an elephant with an upward trunk to be showered with good fortune and compassion. An elephant figurine with the trunk in an upward direction also signifies fortune and success.