PhrasesHub

White elephant

    Definitions

      • discourage someone
        Advise against engaging in a particular activity or task, cautioning that it will not result in any positive outcome or benefit

      • burden or costly possession
        Refer to an expensive or burdensome possession or project that is difficult to get rid of or maintain

    Examples of White elephant

    • The company's new project turned out to be a white elephant.

      In this example, "white elephant" is being used as a metaphor to describe a costly endeavor that yields little or no return on investment. A white elephant is a gift (usually from a royal figure) of an albino elephant, which is both rare and expensive to maintain. However, since albino elephants are impractical for labor, they are essentially useless and become a financial burden on the recipient. Using this metaphor, we can say that a white elephant project is a costly and impractical endeavor that does not provide any real value.

    • After the event, the organizers were left with a white elephant in the form of leftover merchandise.

      In this example, "white elephant" is being used to describe excess merchandise that is difficult to sell. Just as an albino elephant is unwanted and difficult to get rid of, the leftover merchandise is unwanted and hard to sell, making it a financial burden on the organizers.

    • The company's investment in that technology was a white elephant as it failed to deliver the expected results.

      In this example, "white elephant" is being used to describe an investment that has not yielded the expected results. Just as an albino elephant is a gift that is difficult to get rid of, an unsuccessful investment is difficult to recover from, making it a financial burden.

    • The politician's proposed policy has turned out to be a white elephant as it has failed to address the underlying issues.

      In this example, "white elephant" is being used to describe a policy or solution that has failed to address the underlying issues. Just as an albino elephant is an impractical gift that does not serve a useful purpose, a white elephant policy or solution is similarly impractical and fails to address the underlying issues.

    • That antique clock my aunt gave me is turning out to be a real white elephant.

      A white elephant is a possession that is difficult to get rid of and carries unnecessary expenses. In this example, the clock is becoming a burden because it may be hard to sell or donate, and it could require expensive maintenance.

    • The new public transportation system is a white elephant for our city.

      A white elephant can also refer to a grand, extravagant project that turns out to be costly and impractical, and this example illustrates this meaning. The project may have been intended to solve a problem, but it might have unintended negative consequences or exceed the budget.

    • I just inherited a white elephant of a car from my uncle.

      This example illustrates another way the term white elephant may be used - as an old, outdated, or poorly maintained item that no one wants but is hard to dispose of. In this instance, the car could be difficult to sell or donate due to its age or condition.

    • That painting my friend bought as an investment is now a white elephant.

      In this example, the painting has become a burden because its value has decreased, and it may be hard to sell for a profit. This meaning emphasizes the concept of unnecessary expense.Overall, these examples demonstrate the versatility of the white elephant idiom, as it can be applied to a range of possessions, projects, and situations that are difficult to dispose of, burdening, or excessively expensive.


    Conclusion

    The idiom "white elephant" can be used to discourage someone from a particular action or to refer to a burdensome possession or project.

    Origin of "White elephant"

    The origin of the idiom "white elephant" can be traced back to ancient Southeast Asia, where white elephants were considered sacred and a symbol of power and prosperity. In some cultures, white elephants were only owned by royalty and were not used for work, making them expensive and burdensome possessions to maintain. The term "white elephant" was later adopted in English to refer to something that is costly to possess or maintain, but does not provide any real benefit.

    In modern usage, the idiom "white elephant" is often used to describe a project or possession that is expensive and difficult to get rid of, similar to the way white elephants were viewed in ancient cultures. This can include anything from a large and impractical piece of artwork to a costly but unused building. The idiom is used to highlight the burdensome nature of such possessions or projects.