Elephants aren’t just big—they’re full of meaning in English! These idioms pop up all the time in conversation, and understanding them will help you sound more natural and confident. Get ready to explore some fun and memorable elephant-sized expressions and boost your English in a playful way.
What is an elephant?
You all know what an elephant is right? If not, I’ll tell you…
An elephant is the largest mammal on the planet. They are native to Africa and Asia and eat plants. Elephants have big ears and a long trunk.
The word ‘elephant’ can be used as a slang term to describe a fat person (although I wouldn’t recommend using it!).
e.g. I’m not sitting next to Rosy on the bus! I’ll have no space—she’s an elephant.
Elephant idioms list
Get ready to dive into some elephant-sized expressions! These idioms are everywhere in English, and knowing them will help you sound more natural and confident. Check out the list below and see how you can use these big ideas in your everyday conversations.
a memory like an elephant
meaning – have an exceptionally good memory; never forgetting anything
example – Lisa has a memory like an elephant, so don’t even think about hiding anything from her.
a white elephant
meaning – a useless possession or investment
example – My caravan is a white elephant. The weather is always bad, so no one wants to rent it.
an elephant never forgets
meaning – have a very good memory and remembers things for a long time
example – My mum remembers everything I said as a child; an elephant never forgets.
see pink elephants
meaning – hallucinations caused by drink or drugs
example – Joe stayed up for two nights straight and started seeing pink elephants from exhaustion.
the elephant in the room
meaning – a controversial issue that is obvious but ignored
example – When are we going to talk about the elephant in the room? Our growing debt.
You can download a table of elephant idioms and sayings below.
If you’ve enjoyed this page, don’t forget to check out some more animal idioms by clicking on the links below.
conclusion
Elephant idioms might seem big and tricky at first, but once you get the hang of them, they’re a fun way to sound more natural in English. From spotting the “elephant in the room” to adding a little humour with “seeing pink elephants,” these expressions make your speech more colourful and memorable. Keep practising, try using them in sentences, and don’t be afraid to get a little creative!
Want more idioms and fun English quizzes? Check out our YouTube channel for even more ways to boost your vocabulary and sound like a native speaker