an obvious problem or difficult subject that everyone avoids talking about
Ever been in a meeting where everyone knows there's a huge, awkward issue, but no one dares to bring it up? 🐘 That's exactly when you'd use 'the elephant in the room'! It's for those big, undeniable problems that everyone sees but chooses to ignore. Perfect for breaking the silence and tackling what truly matters!
When would you most likely refer to 'the elephant in the room'? A. When everyone is excitedly discussing a new, popular product. B. When a significant budget cut affects everyone, but no one wants to mention it. C. When a team successfully completes a difficult project ahead of schedule.
💡 **Origin Story!** This idiom became popular in the early 20th century. The idea is that an actual elephant would be impossible to miss in a room, so why are we ignoring the obvious problem? Use it to politely point out something crucial that's being overlooked. Just remember to be tactful when you bring it up!