elephant in the room
Speech parts
1. elephant in the room - Noun
2. elephant in the room - Phrase
Meaning
elephant in the room (plural elephants in the room)
(idiomatic) A problem or difficult issue that is very obvious, but is ignored for the convenience or comfort of those involved.
Synonyms: 800-pound gorilla, gorilla in the room
Antonyms
Examples
Patriarchy is like the elephant in the room that we don't talk about, but how could it not affect the planet radically when it's the superstructure of human society?
Of course politics are important - Iraq, Palestine, even social deprivation in Bradford. But as we wake up to this huge challenge to our civilised values, don't let's forget the elephant in the room - an elephant called "religion."
By the time you get to your sixth record, some of the benefits of being in a band are grander than ever, but some of the obstacles are just massive. You deal with these lateral subjects, and all that is left is the elephant in the room.
Race in this country is still the elephant in the room that no one wants to discuss.
Whoop, there's an elephant in the room.
When there's an elephant in the room introduce him.