white elephant
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The film was Titanic - a notorious white elephant, dismissed as a vanity project, and predicted to bring about the collapse of film studios Fox and Paramount.
From BBC ● Dec. 12, 2025
Costing £250m, it was substantially cheaper than Supertram but critics said it lacked ambition, while others branded it a costly white elephant, noting that nowhere else in the UK had built a new trolleybus line.
From BBC ● Jun. 7, 2025
At the end of his storyline, there’s a disorienting creative decision that nearly addresses the white elephant in the room: the question of who belongs in this community.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 13, 2025
The IOC is sensitive about spiraling costs and potential white elephant projects, so encourages local organizers to use venues in other countries.
From Seattle Times ● Jan. 18, 2024
On the page, red diamond-covered trailers passed by first, and each one advertised its contents: roaring lions and tigers, charging rhinos and furious hippos, and a majestic white elephant at the very end.
From "The Marvellers" by Dhonielle Clayton
