What is another word for white elephant?

Pronunciation: [wˈa͡ɪt ˈɛlɪfənt] (IPA)

"White elephant" is an idiom that is often used to describe something that is expensive, useless, and burdensome. The term originates from ancient royal practices in Southeast Asia, where an albino elephant was considered sacred and was presented as a gift to a monarch. Owning such an elephant was seen as a sign of prestige, but the animal was too rare and sacred to use or sell. In modern English, "white elephant" has taken on a negative connotation and is used to describe things that are wasteful, impractical, or unwanted. Some synonyms for this idiom include albatross, burden, liability, millstone, and snag.

What are the hypernyms for White elephant?

A hypernym is a word with a broad meaning that encompasses more specific words called hyponyms.

What are the hyponyms for White elephant?

Hyponyms are more specific words categorized under a broader term, known as a hypernym.

Famous quotes with White elephant

  • It seemed to him that the Order of St Clement labored under the curse of mediocrity, and had done so almost from the beginning. In Europe, the Clementines hadn't (it was always said) recovered from the French Revolution. It was certain that they hadn't ever really got going in the New World. Their history revealed little to brag about-one saint (the Holy Founder) and a few bishops of missionary sees, no theologians worthy of the name, no original thinkers, not even a scientist. The Clementines were unique in that they were noted for nothing at all. They were in bad shape all over the world. The Chicago province was probably better off than the others, but that wasn't saying much. Their college was failing, their high schools were a breakeven proposition at best, and their parishes, except for a few, were in unsettled parts of Texas and New Mexico where no order in its right mind would go. The latest white elephant was an abandoned sanitarium in rural Minnesota! But that was typical of Father Boniface and the rest of them. They just didn't know a bad thing when they saw it-or a good one.
    J. F. Powers

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