White Elephant (Noun)
Meaning 1
Albinic Indian elephant; rare and sometimes venerated in east Asia.
Classification
Nouns denoting animals.
Examples
- The rare white elephant was a sacred symbol in ancient Southeast Asian cultures, often associated with royalty and good fortune.
- In some Buddhist traditions, a white elephant is said to have appeared to Queen Maya, the mother of the Buddha, in a dream before his birth.
- The white elephant, with its pale skin and pinkish ears, was a prized possession of the king and was treated with great care and reverence.
- According to legend, a white elephant was born in the kingdom every hundred years, signaling a time of great prosperity and peace.
- In many Asian cultures, the white elephant is considered a symbol of good luck and prosperity, and is often depicted in art and literature as a majestic and powerful creature.
Hypernyms
Meaning 2
A valuable possession whose upkeep is excessively expensive.
Classification
Nouns denoting possession and transfer of possession.
Examples
- The family's large estate had become a white elephant due to the exorbitant costs of maintenance and property taxes.
- After hitting financial difficulties, the family sold their private yacht, which had become a white elephant with yearly docking fees and crew salaries.
- The local government is considering privatizing the old zoo as it has become a white elephant, consuming a significant portion of the city's annual budget.
- The massive mansion his grandfather built had become a white elephant, as heating it alone was costing him an arm and a leg.
- The small town is struggling to keep its Olympic-sized swimming pool running, as the energy bills and staffing requirements have turned it into a white elephant.