How to Pronounce "elephant in the room"
expression
EL-uh-fuhnt in thuh ROOM
EL-i-fuhnt in thuh ROOM
Definition
An important problem or issue that everyone is aware of but no one wants to discuss.
IPA Transcription
American English
ˈɛɫəfənt/ /ˈɪn/, /ɪn/ /ˈðə/, /ðə/, /ði/ /ˈɹum
British English
ˈɛlɪfənt/ /ˈɪn/ /ðə, ði/ /ɹˈuːm
Simplified Pronunciation
US
EL-uh-fuhnt in thuh ROOM
UK
EL-i-fuhnt in thuh ROOM
Listen in Context
Nobody talked about the elephant in the room during the meeting.
Let's address the elephant in the room and talk honestly.
The salary cut was the elephant in the room for the staff.
Everyone kept laughing, but the tension was the real elephant in the room.