elephant in the room

noun phrase

: an obvious major problem or issue that people avoid discussing or acknowledging

Examples of elephant in the room in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

There were maybe a few extra news crews reporting on the show as people filed in and out, but if Sheeran hadn’t brought it up, the crowd did not seem like one particularly anxious about any elephant in the room. — Brendan Menapace, Billboard, 20 Sep. 2026

In every interview, Johnson addressed the elephant in the room. — Zack Rosenblatt, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026

That elephant in the room shaped, in some ways, the relationship between Saban and Kiffin, according to those around the program. — John Talty, Vanity Fair, 2 Sep. 2026

The other elephant in the room is that money matters will feel more urgent this month, if not like a bit of a problem. — Steph Koyfman, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1985, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for elephant in the room

• anteroom
• assume
• backroom
• ballroom
• barroom
• bathroom
• bedroom
• boardroom
• bridegroom
• classroom
• cloakroom
• consume