释义 |
white elephantBrE /ˌwaɪt ˈelɪfənt/NAmE /ˌwaɪt ˈelɪfənt/ noun [usually sing.] a thing that is useless and no longer needed, although it may have cost a lot of money 昂贵而无用之物◆The new office block has become an expensive white elephant. 这座新办公大楼成了昂贵的摆设。 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. That person would have to spend all their money on looking after the rare animal. 源自暹罗(今泰国)的一个故事。当时的国王会送白象给他讨厌的人,让这个人不得不花掉所有的钱来照顾这种稀有的动物。 |