white elephant

短语

昂贵而又无用的东西,耗资巨大的累赘

发音

AU

词形变化

white elephants 复数 white elephants

释义与例句

n.
  1. 1.

    A possession that is unwanted or is a financial burden; an unprofitable investment.

    大白象

    比喻
  2. 2.

    Clipping of white elephant exchange.

  3. 3.

    Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see white, elephant.

词汇关系

名词

上位词 2

possession Indian elephant

词源

In Siam, elephants were working animals. However, white (albino) elephants were considered sacred and therefore were not to be put to work. The owner was then left to feed the elephant but could get no work from it. It is said that the King of Siam used to make a present of a white elephant to courtiers he wanted to ruin.

来源：wiktionary