Home » Business English » the elephant in the room

elephant in the room: meaning and explanation

An elephant in the room is a phrase used for a big problem or issue that everyone is aware of but which no one is talking about.

This phrase can be used to describe a situation (as with micro-dictations one and two), or to try to force people to confront the problem and stop ignoring it. e.g. I hate to be the one to bring up the elephant in the room, but we all know that there’s real chance that our department is going to be shut down in the next few weeks.

Have a go at these micro-dictation exercises to hear this expression being used in context – how much can you understand?

Listening exercises

Micro-listening #1

Accent: North America

, . , .
, one in the the elephant . Without new , bankruptcy
Of , no one in the mentioned the elephant in the . Without new , we’re facing bankruptcy

About the sentence

…we’re facing bankruptcy

We use the verb face with something negative (such as problems or challenges) to say that it is a real possibility or likely to happen. e.g. After a very disappointing year, we’re facing the closure of our flagship store.

Micro-listening #2

Accent: Ireland

Micro-listening #3

Accent: Australia

 

Extra practice

Here are some questions/links to help you learn the new vocabulary:

  • Can you remember a time when there was “an elephant in the room”?
  • How do individuals or groups navigate the challenge of addressing “an elephant in the room”? Are there communication strategies that can be effective in these situations?
  • How can organisations or groups create a culture where people feel comfortable addressing an “elephant in the room”? What role does leadership play in this process?

Photo by Richard Jacobs on Unsplash

Categorized in: