What does the English phrase 'ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM' mean?

4,213 views ・ 2024-03-01

English Addict with Mr Duncan


Please double-click on the English subtitles below to play the video.

00:02
Here's an interesting phrase that
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we use quite often in English
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when there is a thing that we won't
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or don't want to discuss or talk about
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we can describe something that might
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be embarrassing or awkward to talk about
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as being the elephant in the room
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00:24
a thing that people feel ashamed
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00:26
or embarrassed about discussing
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can be described as
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00:31
the elephant in the room
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00:33
a group of people might sit around
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and they all know that there is something
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that they have to talk about or discuss
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however no one wants to talk about it
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00:46
no one wants to discuss that particular thing
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00:51
it is the elephant in the room
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00:55
people sometimes feel awkward or ashamed
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or embarrassed when talking  about a particular thing
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01:02
even though it is completely obvious
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01:06
especially these days
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you have to be so careful about what you say
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01:11
because you might upset or offend someone
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01:15
so these days we might be even more cautious
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about discussing certain things
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01:23
do you have an elephant in the room?
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01:26
is there something that you want to talk about
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that is clear and obvious
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but you don't want to just in case
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you cause a problem?
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it is 'the elephant in the room'.
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