phrase
Elephant in the Room
An obvious, large issue that everyone present is conspicuously not discussing.
Origin
The image goes back to a 19th-century Russian fable by Ivan Krylov, in which a museum visitor admires every tiny exhibit and misses the elephant. The English idiom in its current sense became common in the late 20th century, especially in therapy and corporate settings.
Modern usage
Universal. 'Let's address the elephant in the room' is the standard meeting opener for the topic everyone has been avoiding.
Tags
avoidance
communication