You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.
Ok, people. Metaphor-sorting time: There is no 800 pound gorilla in the room.
An obvious fact or problem that no one wants to talk about is the elephant in the room. Because one cannot actually be unaware of an elephant in a normal sized room. Or even in a larger than average room. It’s impossible. Get yourself an elephant and try it. Why it’s implied that no one wants to talk about this elephant I really don’t know, but that’s what the expression means: big thing everybody knows and nobody wants to talk about.
Something big and powerful such that it trumps all other things of it’s kind can be called the 800 pound gorilla. Because an 800 pound gorilla dominates everything, especially other gorillas and you. Applicable to the preeminent expert on something, the clearly overwhelmingly dominant person or thing, the major factor. You would like an 800 pound gorilla in your corner. Perhaps. If you’re the kind to mix in a boxing metaphor. I’m not, but you could be.
Regardless. Two expressions, please. Thank you.
An obvious fact or problem that no one wants to talk about is the elephant in the room. Because one cannot actually be unaware of an elephant in a normal sized room. Or even in a larger than average room. It’s impossible. Get yourself an elephant and try it. Why it’s implied that no one wants to talk about this elephant I really don’t know, but that’s what the expression means: big thing everybody knows and nobody wants to talk about.
Something big and powerful such that it trumps all other things of it’s kind can be called the 800 pound gorilla. Because an 800 pound gorilla dominates everything, especially other gorillas and you. Applicable to the preeminent expert on something, the clearly overwhelmingly dominant person or thing, the major factor. You would like an 800 pound gorilla in your corner. Perhaps. If you’re the kind to mix in a boxing metaphor. I’m not, but you could be.
Regardless. Two expressions, please. Thank you.