white elephant
Meaning: An item that no one wants to buy or that is difficult to get rid of; a costly but useless possession.
Language: English
Literally: (Already vivid in English)
Category: Animals
Origin: The item is usually not worthless, but for some reason other than cost, the item is difficult to sell. The origin of the expression is a traditional custom from Siam, present-day Thailand. If a rare albino (white) elephant was captured, it was the property of the emperor, and only he could ride or use the animal. Whenever the emperor wished to ruin someone who displeased him, he would give the man a white elephant. The man would then be forced to feed and care for the animal but could neither use nor destroy it.
More idioms — Animals
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- Avoir le cafard — To feel depressed or down.
- Poser un lapin — To stand someone up on a date.
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More English idioms
- apple of one's eye — A person or thing that is precious or loved above all else.
- big cheese — An important, powerful or influential person.
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- black tie — Formal dress in which men wear black bow ties and dinner jackets or tuxedos and women wea…
- chew someone out — To scold someone harshly.
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