An obvious problem or controversial issue that everyone is aware of but no one wants to discuss or acknowledge.
This phrase emerged in the 1950s American English, though the concept of ignoring something obvious has older roots. It gained popularity through various cultural references, including the 1814 fable 'The Inquisitive Man' by Ivan Krylov, which featured someone noticing small objects while missing an elephant.
The phrase brilliantly captures a universal human behavior - our tendency to avoid uncomfortable truths through collective denial. Psychologically, it represents what therapists call 'family secrets' or organizational blind spots, where the very obviousness of a problem makes it paradoxically harder to address.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.