How do you use "Elephant in the room" in a sentence?

Let's address the elephant in the room—we're losing money. The elephant in the room is that nobody likes the new manager. We can't ignore the elephant in the room any longer.

Elephant in the room

Q: What does "Elephant in the room" mean?

An obvious problem that everyone ignores A major issue or awkward truth that everyone is aware of but nobody wants to address. Like having an actual elephant in a room—impossible to miss but everyone pretends it's not there.

Slang Term AmericanBritishAustralian ★★★★★ Very Common Neutral

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의미: An obvious problem that everyone ignores

众人视而不见的明显问题

Un problema obvio que todos ignoran

誰もが無視する明らかな問題

모두가 알지만 무시하는 명백한 문제

A major issue or awkward truth that everyone is aware of but nobody wants to address. Like having an actual elephant in a room—impossible to miss but everyone pretends it's not there.

一个重大问题或尴尬的事实，所有人都知道但没人愿意提起。就像房间里有一头大象——不可能看不见，但所有人都假装它不存在。

Un asunto importante o una verdad incómoda que todos conocen pero nadie quiere abordar. Como tener un elefante real en una habitación: imposible de ignorar, pero todos fingen que no está ahí.

誰もが気づいていながら、誰も触れたがらない大きな問題や気まずい真実。実際に部屋に象がいるようなもの——見逃すことは不可能なのに、みんないないふりをしている。

모두가 인지하고 있지만 아무도 다루고 싶어 하지 않는 중대한 문제나 불편한 진실. 실제로 방 안에 코끼리가 있는 것처럼—못 볼 수가 없지만 모두 없는 척하는 상황.

예문

Let's address the elephant in the room—we're losing money.
我们来谈谈大家都在回避的问题吧——我们在亏钱
Hablemos de lo que todos saben: estamos perdiendo dinero
この場の問題に向き合おう——我々は赤字だ
이 자리의 핵심 문제를 직시하자—우리는 돈을 잃고 있다.
The elephant in the room is that nobody likes the new manager.
大家都不愿说的事实是，没人喜欢新经理
Lo que nadie quiere decir es que a nadie le gusta el nuevo jefe
みんなが気づいている問題は、誰も新しい部長を好きじゃないということだ
모두가 외면하는 문제는 아무도 새 부장을 좋아하지 않는다는 것이다.
We can't ignore the elephant in the room any longer.
我们不能再无视这个显而易见的问题了
No podemos seguir ignorando el problema evidente
もうこの問題を無視し続けることはできない
더 이상 이 명백한 문제를 외면할 수 없다.

발음

/ˈelɪfənt ɪn ðə ruːm/

사용 가이드

맥락: awkward truths, meetings, confrontation

어조: direct, confrontational

✓ 올바른 표현

Address the elephant in the room
正视大家回避的问题
Abordar el problema que todos evitan
見て見ぬふりをしている問題に向き合う
핵심 문제를 직시하자
The elephant in the room is...
大家心知肚明的问题是……
El problema que nadie quiere mencionar es...
誰もが気づいている問題は…
모두가 외면하는 문제는...

✗ 잘못된 표현

Used to force discussion of avoided topics
用于迫使大家讨论被回避的话题
Se usa para forzar la discusión sobre temas que se evitan
避けられている話題の議論を促すために使う
회피하던 주제를 꺼내기 위해 사용됨

흔한 실수

None—very clear metaphor

기원과 역사

First appeared in print in The New York Times in 1959, though the concept is older. The absurdity of ignoring something as large as an elephant perfectly captures willful blindness to obvious problems.

어원: From the absurdity of ignoring something so large

최초 기록: 1959 in print, earlier orally

문화적 배경

Era: Mid-20th century onwards

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Pop culture: Business meetings; Therapy discussions

Regional notes: Universal across English-speaking world.

변형

Elephant in the roomThe elephant in the room

이 주제의 다른 표현

Taking the Mickey ★★★★★ Making fun of someone or something; teasing Brilliant ★★★★★ Excellent, wonderful (British emphasis) No Worries ★★★★★ It's fine, don't worry about it, you're welcome Fair Enough ★★★★★ That's reasonable, I accept that You Know What I Mean ★★★★★ Do you understand? (seeking confirmation) It's Not Rocket Science ★★★★★ It's not that complicated or difficult