white elephant

Definitions

1. A possession that is unwanted or is a financial burden; an unprofitable investment.
   figuratively
2. Clipping of white elephant exchange.
   abbreviation, alt-of, clipping
3. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see white, elephant.

Equivalents

Examples

“South Australia's "white elephant" was really going to prove⟳ a valuable possession after all!”

“Some of the stadiums being built for the World Cup soccer tournament, scheduled for next year, have⟳ also been criticized for delays and cost⟳ overruns, and have⟳ become⟳ subjects of derision as protesters question⟳ whether they will become⟳ white elephants.”

“In your story about Chinese success, you spend⟳ a lot of time on the shadow side of these big projects. Some of these projects look⟳ like⟳ white elephants. They look⟳ like⟳ airports built when there aren’t enough people flying or apartment blocks built that lots of people don’t want⟳ to live⟳ in.”

CEFR level