White or very pale elephants were so highly prized that when one was discovered, it immediately became the possession of the King. The new office block has become an expensive white elephant. Idiom. The following will help you learn more about this strain. Building your vocabulary In the West, the term "white elephant" relating to an expensive burden that fails to meet expectations, was first used in the 1600s and became widespread in the 1800s. White elephant stall definition: a stall , usually at a fete or fundraising event, where unwanted possessions are sold | Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples Giving a gift of a white elephant would be done to someone considered an enemy. The white elephant . Keeping a white elephant was a very expensive undertaking, since the owner had to provide the elephant with special food and provide access for people who wanted to worship it. Enjoy steaks and seafood, sip cocktails on the Harborside Lawn, or … with a subordinate, he would give him a white elephant. English phrases. The term “white elephant” has its origins traced to East Asia where populations of Asian elephants have lived closely with a human settlement for many centuries. That person would have to spend all their money on looking after the rare animal. After much effort and great expense, Barnum finally acquired the animal from the King of Siam only to discover that his "white elephant" was actually dirty grey in color with a few pink spots. Origin. They are protected and are not utilised as working animals as is … The term derives from the sacred white elephants kept by Southeast Asian monarchs in Burma, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia. So way back in the day in Southeast Asia, white elephants were considered sacred beings. [7] Many church bazaars held “white elephant sales” where donors could unload unwanted bric-à-brac, generating profit from the phenomenon that "one man’s trash is another man’s treasure" and the term has continued to be used in this context. [4] According to one source it was popularized following P. T. Barnum's experience with an elephant named Toung Taloung that he billed as the "Sacred White Elephant of Burma". Kings and rulers in the area loved white elephants because it showed off just how rich they were. The White Elephant Kratom is no different. White Elephant Kratom – Strain Origin – Dosage – Reddit Review. To possess a white elephant was regarded (and is still regarded in Thailand and Burma) as a sign that the monarch reigned with justice and power, and that the kingdom was blessed with peace and prosperity. The gift would, in most cases, An unwanted or useless item, as in The cottage at the lake had become a real white elephanttoo run down to sell, yet costly to keep up, or Grandma's ornate silver is a white elephant; no one wants it but it's too valuable to discard. Monarchs often exemplified their possession of white elephants in their formal titles (e.g., Hsinbyushin, lit. The opulence expected of anyone who owned a beast of such stature was great. A rare whitish or light-gray form of the Asian elephant, often considered sacred in parts of South and … It was forbidden, as well, to slaughter them or make them do work. Keeping a white elephant was a very expensive undertaking, since the owner It also comes with hints of sweet floral berry and earthy pine. Idiomatic expression. Example: Rosie’s newly purchased Ferrari was a real white elephant. had to provide the elephant with special food and provide access for people who Such a gift, coming from the king, could not be given away! Define white elephant. [21][circular reference], Idiom – name for large constructions that are not used, This article is about the English-language idiom. a white elephant phrase. Sure, it looked great but the insurance was bankrupting her. References to Indian and Thai veneration of white elephants dates back to at least the early 17th century. It's a fun way to spend christmas with friends, family, coworkers, etc. The king would bestow such an animal on a subject with whom he was displeased and wait until the high cost of feeding the animal, wh… Monarchs often exemplified their possession of white elephants in their formal titles (e.g., Hsinby… The phrase comes from Thailand (or Siam as it was known then). ‘Accused of being an expensive white elephant, the pressure's been on to re-energise the site.’ ‘We could end up with a load of white elephants, huge stadia and pools, rather than local facilities.’ ‘York would gain absolutely nothing in having an airport, except perhaps a huge white elephant that would cost a large amount of money.’ The goal of a white elephant gift exchange is to entertain party-goers rather than to gain a genuinely valuable or highly sought-after item. 'Lord of the White Elephant' and the third monarch of the Konbaung dynasty). On top of that, you’ll learn why it’s getting some attention from the kratom community. Today, the term ‘white elephant’ denotes any burdensome, expensive and useless possession that is much more trouble than it is worth. [2] To possess a white elephant was regarded (and is still regarded in Thailand and Burma) as a sign that the monarch reigned with justice and power, and that the kingdom was blessed with peace and prosperity. Origin of the term. Ancient kingdoms in East Asia particularly in present-day Myanmar, Cambodia, Thailand, and Laos regarded white elephants as sacred animals and had (and still have in the case of kingdoms in Thailand and Myanmar) laws protecting the animals. ruin the recipient. The term derives from the sacred white elephants kept by Southeast Asian monarchs in Burma, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia. [9][10] Examples include prestigious but uneconomic infrastructure projects such as airports,[11] dams,[12] bridges,[13][14] shopping malls[15] and football stadiums built for the FIFA World Cup. white elephant synonyms, white elephant pronunciation, white elephant translation, English dictionary definition of white elephant. Keeping an albino elephant – a white elephant – was extremely expensive; it required a special diet, could not work, and everybody wanted to worship it. This expression comes from a legendary former Siamese custom whereby an albino elephant, considered sacred, could only be owned by the king. Only the extremely we… More recently, the term has also been used to describe any doomed enterprise, on which large sums of money are spent and which is then abandoned. Flavors. Relax by the outdoor heated pool in a private cabana or hop on a bike and explore the area. [6] The phrase was attached to "white elephant swaps" and "white elephant sales" in the early twentieth century. [3] Because the animals were considered sacred and laws protected them from labor, receiving a gift of a white elephant from a monarch was simultaneously a blessing and a curse. In ancient times in Siam (called Thailand since 1949) and some other Asian nations, albino elephants were regarded as holy. Read on to explore this elephant ear’s shaped kratom known as White Elephant strain. – The Sentinel", "Chapter 9: Ganesh the Potbellied Elephant God", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=White_elephant&oldid=1018578743, Articles lacking reliable references from December 2017, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 18 April 2021, at 20:32. Asian countries. They are hard to harvest and are properly grown before cultivation. White (albino) elephants were regarded as holy in ancient times in Thailand and other Asian countries. [18], The term has also been applied to outdated or underperforming military projects like the U.S. Navy's Alaska-class cruiser. elephant (n.) c. 1300, olyfaunt, from Old French olifant (12c., Modern French éléphant), from Latin elephantus, from Greek elephas (genitive elephantos) "elephant; ivory," probably from a non-Indo-European language, likely via Phoenician (compare Hamitic elu "elephant," source of the word for it in many Semitic languages, or possibly from Sanskrit ibhah "elephant"). Word Origin From the story that in Siam (now Thailand) the king would give a white elephant as a present to somebody that he did not like. It was a blessing because the animal was sacred and a sign of the monarch's favour, and a curse because the recipient now had an expensive-to-maintain animal he could not give away and could not put to much practical use. This place is surrounded by deep nested forests. White elephants are considered sacred and rare animals in Thailand and are mostly owned by the Thai royal family. Origin. These stories were known in England as e… September 8, 2020 by Suzanne Larson. Origin: From the Burmese belief that albino elephants are sacred. In Southeastern Asian countries a white,(albino), elephant is associated in the scriptures with the birth of Budda and is considered sacred. Origin: Iddy can’t believe it. [19][20] In Austria, the term "white elephant" means workers who have little or no use, but are not terminable. Albino elephants are completely white. Edging the harbor, White Elephant is steps from Children's Beach, the Brant Point Lighthouse, and Nantucket Town. A white elephant is a possession which its owner cannot dispose of and whose cost, particularly that of maintenance, is out of proportion to its usefulness. [5], The expressions "white elephant" and "gift of a white elephant" came into common use in the middle of the nineteenth century. The term ‘white elephant’in the West, rel… White Elephant is as tasty as it smells with the dominant flavors of berry and grape. Some in the government see the third aircraft carrier as a frightfully expensive white elephant. Etymology . The white elephant icon also has roots in Thailand, formerly known as Siam. Incidentally, the ‘white elephant’ term derives from Asia. English vocabulary. wanted to worship it. Legend has it that the origin of this popular game can be traced back to … A white elephant gift exchange, Yankee swap or Dirty Santa is a party game where amusing and impractical gifts are exchanged during festivities. For actual white elephants and their cultural aspects, see, "A Kingship by Merit and Cosmic Investiture", "Two-and-a-half Idioms – the History and Etymology of 'White Elephants, "Two-and-a-Half More Idioms – "White Elephants" and Yankee Swaps", "The 10 greatest white elephants | David Shariatmadari", "Spain's white elephants – how country's airports lie empty", "State's Longest Bridge Nears Completion, But Budget Cuts May Limit Army's Ability to Use It", "Russian bridge of trouble opens to world", "New South China Mall: Tour A Ghost Mall", "World Cup: Are South Africa's stadiums white elephants? Signs of peace…and uselessness. At times, it can be a little pungent. People have been using the term “white elephant” to mean this kind of burdensome and useless object for 200 years! In many cases, the gift would ruin the recipient. Macomb County, Michigan The "White Elephant" Christmas party tradition has been passed on through many generations. The cost of feeding and caring for the elephant was immense and would surely ruin the subject. The expression in original context was "to have a white elephant to keep". But the origins actually go back further to Southeast Asia. From those early beginnings, the store has grown to more than 600 dedicated volunteers, working 6 days a week, processing, cleaning and pricing gently used goods for re-sale to the public. When the King of Siam disliked one of his subordinates, he would burden him or her with a white elephant. The earliest instance of the adjective white elephantine, formed after white elephant, that I have found is from the Illustrated Times (London) of 31 st January 1863: The upper portion of that pleasant Bohemian world, that camaraderie of artists, authors, actors, and men about town (quorum pars magna fuit * ) must have wondered what had become of that very genial entrepreneur, Mr. E. T. Smith. Every kratom strain has something to offer. In ancient Siam (modern day Thailand), white elephants were not only rare, but considered sacred. That person would have to spend all their money on looking after the rare animal. They can't be used for work and they must be lavished with the ultimate amount of care. White See also: elephant, white. (albino) elephants were regarded as holy in ancient times in Thailand and other In modern usage, it is an object, building project, scheme, business venture, facility, etc., considered expensive but without use or value.[1]. The origin of white elephant gift exchanges So, what is a white elephant gift, exactly? The first reference in English to the idiomatic meaning of the term 'white elephant' comes in 1851 G. E. Jewbury's Letters, 1892: "His services are like so many white elephants, of which nobody can make use, and yet that drain one's gratitude, if indeed one does not feel bankrupt. [16][17] The American Oakland Athletics baseball team has used a white elephant as a symbol and usually its main or alternate logo since 1902, originally in sarcastic defiance of John McGraw's 1902 characterization of the new team as a "white elephant". Learning english. “According to legend, the tradition of white elephant gifts began long ago when the King of Siam—now Thailand—gave an actual white elephant to anyone … It cost millions to build and nobody ever goes there.This comes from the story that in Siam (now Thailand), the king would give a white elephant as a present to somebody that he did not like. ". White Elephant inherited an overpowering grape aroma from its parent strain Purple Elephant. Later, the expression came to mean 'a burdensome possession - one that is more trouble than it is worth'. Definition of a white elephant in the Idioms Dictionary. White Elephant Thai Cuisine has been open and thriving for over 16 years. What's the origin of the phrase 'A white elephant'? But...what does a white elephant have to do with it anyway? If the king was unhappy with one of his subjects, he would give them a white elephant. They even appeared on the national flag until 1917. This idiom comes from an ancient custom in Thailand, then Siam. White or nearly white elephants were extremely prized and revered so, became the King’s possession when they were discovered. On the whole, they are quite pleasing to the senses. White albino elephants were considered sacred and could only be owned by the king. [8], In modern usage, the term now often refers in addition to an extremely expensive building project that fails to deliver on its function or becomes very costly to maintain. According to historic legend, its origin stems back to the kingdom of Siam (modern day Thailand) where the Siamese King would gift an actual white elephant to those who displeased him. Another theory in the White Elephant origin story is that Western Union founder and Ivy League university namesake Ezra Cornell popularized the term at 19th-century social gatherings. What does a white elephant expression mean? It mainly comes from the sacred white elephants belonging to Southeast Asian monarchs in Burma, Laos, and Cambodia. The idea being that you would eventually wipe out your enemy's wealth with the care of the sacred elephant. n. 1. This is an idiom that has a definitive origin! The origin of the name “White Elephant” comes from the Thai phrase: “Chang Samkhan”, but in Thai language white in this instance is not a reference to the color, but rather desirability. The White Elephant was first introduced to England when a traveling White Elephant made it's way all the way from Thailand and was to be displayed for everyone to see this highly anticipated creature. White Elephant: A white elephant is an investment whose cost of upkeep is not in line with how useful or valuable the item is. Originally 'white elephants' were simply that - elephants that were white. Knowing that white elephants were a revered symbol in Thai and Buddhist cultures, you'd think this was an honor, however, it was the farthest thing from it. Definitions by the largest Idiom Dictionary. The origins of the phrase come from Siam (modern-day Thailand). The legend is widespread but often cited with little confirmation as to its veracity. The Country Fair White Elephant Thrift Store was established in 1964 by a handful of volunteers looking for a way to support their community. The opulence expected of anyone who owned a beast of such stature was great. If a Thai King became dissatisfied Because of the importance of the white elephant in Thailand, we decided to call our restaurant White Elephant Thai Cuisine. Keta pang Regency is the place where this Kratom comes from. 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