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| Colorful English! | ||||
| Word or Phrase: | Part of Speech: | Idiom or General?: | Usage? | Restricted? |
| white elephant | noun | 1) general 2) idiomatic |
1) regional, not very common 2) not common |
No |
| Meaning: | ||||
| 1) a light colored elephant of value, which sometimes
venerated in India, Thailand, and surrounding countries 2) something requiring much care and expense but producing little or no profit; something of little or no value | ||||
| Example(s): | ||||
| 1) White
elephants are not so common in Thailand and are highly prized. 2) A yacht or a personal airplane can be a real white elephant; they cost much to maintain but provide little useful pleasure. | ||||
| Note: | ||||