What does ‘a white elephant’ mean?
To “a white elephant” means to a costly possession that is more trouble than it is worth. Brewer's records the tradition attributed to Siamese kings, who reputedly gave sacred white elephants to courtiers they disliked; the animal was ruinously expensive to keep.
Origin
- Brewer's records the tradition attributed to Siamese kings, who reputedly gave sacred white elephants to courtiers they disliked; the animal was ruinously expensive to keep.
How to use it
- Common in real estate and public works.
- Example: The old stadium is a white elephant for the city.
Source:
Last verified: 2026-07-18
- Definitions and origins are drawn from public-domain reference works, primarily Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898), with modern usage notes clearly marked.