← Back to collection
Region: General | Usage example: The stadium became a white elephant after the games ended.

White elephant

Meaning

An expensive but useless possession.

Usage

Used for impractical projects or gifts.

Origin & History

Origins and dates here are approximate summaries. Many idioms have disputed or unknown origins, and not every date has been checked against a historical dictionary, so treat specific dates and stories as a starting point rather than a citation.

Southeast Asian kings gifted sacred white elephants that were costly to upkeep.

Used since the 19th century in colonial writings.

Related Idioms

Elephant in the room

An obvious issue nobody wants to address.

White knuckle

Experiencing fear or excitement intensely.

The elephant in the room

An obvious issue that people avoid discussing.

More Idioms

Break the ice

To do or say something to relieve tension or get conversation going in a social situation.

Cut to the chase

Skip ahead to the most important or exciting part of something.

The ball is in your court

It is now your turn to take action or make a decision.

Throw in the towel

To concede defeat or admit a struggle isn't worth continuing.