elephant in room
Unspoken glaring issue
An elephant in the room is an obvious problem or uncomfortable truth that everyone present is aware of but no one mentions.
The image is of something so large it cannot be missed, yet politely ignored: Nobody wanted to address the elephant in the room—that the company was nearly bankrupt.
Sometimes shortened to just the elephant.
- unspokenNot verbally expressed
- unspoken ruleUnstated behavioral expectation
- obviousEasily perceived, unmistakable
- awkwardLacking grace or ease
- ignoreRefuse to notice
turn a blind eye · taboo · silence · tension · avoidance · swept under · denial · uncomfortable · glaring · massive · invisible · pretend · don't ask · secret · unaddressed · looming · heavy · walk on eggshells
elephant in roomclearing the air
Dispelling misunderstanding openly
saying the quiet part loud · honest conversation · cards on the table · open secret · airing dirty laundry
elephant in roomsubtle hint
Indirect, understated indication
undercurrent · subtext · reading between the lines · veiled reference · dog whistle
elephant, room, elephants, elephantine, rooms, roomed, rooming, roomy, roomier