Sample Sentences forwhite elephant (editor-reviewed)
white elephant as in: white elephant gift exchange
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The city's new convention center proved to be a white elephant, costing millions in annual upkeep while sitting empty most of the year.white elephant = something costly to keep but of little practical value
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The Overlook Hotel, a white elephant that has been run lucklessly by almost a dozen different groups and individuals since it first opened its doors in 1910, is now being operated as a security-jacketed "key club," ostensibly for unwinding businessmen. (source)white elephant = an idiom describing a possession whose upkeep exceeds its value
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Publicly he called it his White Elephant. (source)
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And if Will Benteen can't make a go of the cotton, I'm willing to chip in and help out on that white elephant in Clayton County that you love so much.† (source)
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Amory had lately received several alarming letters from Mr. Barton—the Lake Geneva house was too large to be easily rented; the best rent obtainable at present would serve this year to little more than pay for the taxes and necessary improvements; in fact, the lawyer suggested that the whole property was simply a white elephant on Amory's hands.† (source)
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[28] Concerning the American Language, in The Stolen White Elephant; Boston, 1882† (source)
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And then as an afterthought he added: "Gulden might not think you—a white elephant on his hands!†
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meaning too rare to warrant focus
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...even the barbaric, grand old kings of Pegu placing the title "Lord of the White Elephants" above all their other magniloquent ascriptions of dominion; (source)White Elephants = rare elephants that are white
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THE BUDDHA DESCENDED from heaven to his mother's womb in the shape of a milk-white elephant. (source)white elephant = a rare elephant that is white
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'They look like white elephants,' she said. (source)white elephants = rare elephants that are white
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I said the mountains looked like white elephants. (source)white elephants = rare elephants that are white
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When Kona went out next day to graze the cows, playing music on his flute, the King of Heaven came down on his great white elephant, Airavata, fell on his face at the feet of the smiling lad, and made submission. (source)white elephant = a rare elephant that is white
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They don't really look like white elephants. (source)white elephants = rare elephants that are white
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But if I do it, then it will be nice again if I say things are like white elephants, and you'll like it? (source)
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