The Elephant in the Room

"I walked into the office, and there it was—the elephant in the room. No one wanted to talk about it, but we all knew it was there. I tried to focus on my work, typing away, but it was impossible to ignore. Finally, someone cleared their throat and said, ‘So… are we going to address it?’ Everyone froze. It was time to face the music."

Question: What was the "elephant in the room" referring to?

PIE PROMPTS

1. Pronunciation

   • Listen to the audio and repeat or use it as a guide while you read the story. Pay attention to the pacing and stress of key phrases like “the elephant in the room.”

2. Intonation

   • Sentence: “So… are we going to address it?”

   • Intonation variations:

     • “So… are we going to address it?” (Stressing so adds hesitation, showing reluctance.)

     • “So… are we going to address it?” (Stressing we emphasizes that the group, not just the speaker, must decide.)

     • “So… are we going to address it?” (Stressing address focuses on the action to be taken.)

3. Expression

   • Idiom: The elephant in the room refers to an obvious issue or problem that no one wants to discuss.

   • Use this idiom: When you are in a situation where people are avoiding talking about something uncomfortable or awkward.