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elephant in the room 

n. A very large issue that everyone is acutely aware of, but nobody wants to talk about. Perhaps a sore spot, perhaps politically incorrect, or perhaps a political hot potato, it's something that no one wants to touch with a ten foot pole. Sometimes pink elephant in the room.
The degeneration of parental responsibility in this country is the elephant in the room, but no one in Washington wants to address it.
elephant in the room by fizzle April 15, 2004

Elephant in the room 

A very American saying, that is a metaphor for something that people do not want to discuss.

Popularised in the UK by Loose Women guest panellist Alexandra Burke.
Ah, there's an Elephant in the room,
Ah, though we're all alone,
It's not just me and you
Elephant in the room by KDRKS January 9, 2020

elephant turd in the room 

Something everyone tries to ignore but which has gotten much worse than just the elephant.
It was somewhat easier, they all thought, to just continue to pretend not to smell the horrific, near paralyzing stench of the elephant turd in the room.

Highest In The Room 

A song by Houston rapper, Travis Scott. First teased in a Kylie Cosmetics advertisement. Production includes Mike Dean, OZ and Nik D. The song describes Travis in his most intoxicated state. After months of waiting the song was released on October 4, 2019.
Me: *Playing Highest In The Room*
Dad: Are you listening to Highest In The Room?
Me: Yeah
Dad: Turn it off
Me: Why?
Dad: We have bigger speakers downstairs
Highest In The Room by XXXCUMINMYASS December 31, 2019

smartest guy in the room 

The one we all hate, who is never content not being the center of attention. Every story told near this guy gets a response of what he would've done, how you screwed up, or a whitty use of math/science to assert him dominance.
I was talking to Carl about an episode of Breaking Bad and he lectured me about all the science that's wrong with the show, while using words he knows that I don't know, just to show how he is the smartest guy in the room and I am not

elf in the room

An issue of small importance,
A trivial point that does not change the discussion
The opposite of "the elephant in the room"
"Are we really going to ignore the elf in the room? Joey still owes me 5 dollars"
"That elf in the room is starting to creep me out, but it doesn't matter"
elf in the room by jscomino November 7, 2018
More from Urban Dictionary
Millennial optimism may be gone, but Gen Z whimsy (WhimZ) is in.
WhimZ by WhimZ! November 5, 2026
Word of the Day on November 13, 2026

Frothability 

The measure of an emotional and over zealous consumer in an upwardly charging market, also known as a bull market. It's characterized by rising asset prices, increased investor confidence, and favorable growth in the markets, bro.
The frothability was evident as over-zealous consumers eagerly engaged in bidding wars, driving property prices to unsustainable levels reminiscent of previous speculative bubbles.
Frothability by cptn.kagaroo1 January 26, 2024
Word of the Day on November 12, 2026

Soul digger

A man who dates women with the sole purpose of exploiting their time, energy, and labor while he sucks the joy and happiness from their lives.
"That guy's a soul digger. He'll expect you to work full time, but you'll be doing all the cooking, cleaning, laundry, shopping, and childcare while he plays video games or watches TV."
Soul digger by anonymous November 11, 2026
Word of the Day on November 11, 2026

pod person 

A person pretending to be something they aren't, or an impostor. This is inferred because of the old alien movies where alien pods appear on earth and the "pod people" dispose of the humans and slowly reproduce the bodies, pretending to be humans.
The pod person was pretending to be my father, but I knew that he was an alien when he acted differently than my father ever would have.
pod person by Christopher M. May 9, 2005
Word of the Day on November 10, 2026
A dead drop is a location used to secretly pass items between two people, without requiring them to meet.

Spies have been known to use dead drops, using various techniques to hide the items and to signal that the drop has been made. Drug dealers use this as well.

A common place is to duct tape the item to the underside of a toilet cover in a public restroom.

A signal is sometimes used as well to indicate there is something to pickup, like a pile of stones in a certain formation. After checking the drop the signal is removed.
"The dead drop is the restroom toilet at the Gulf station at the corner of Commercial Ave. and Georges Rd."
dead drop by rubberroom July 23, 2008
Word of the Day on November 9, 2026

No Surprises Wedding

A "No Surprises Wedding," or NSW, is a wedding invitation designation that tells attendees that there can be no unplanned announcements, engagements, events or speeches at the wedding - all actions must be pre-approved by the couple. Anyone who performs an unapproved "surprise" will be asked to leave the wedding early.

This designation comes from Reddit, where so many stories of bad wedding behavior indicated a need to communicate expectations for the wedding behavior of attendees.
You are cordially invited to the nuptials of Brian and Tom on October 31 at noon.

Please note that this wedding is child-free (under 10) and a No Surprises Wedding (NSW). Reach out to wedding planner Sami Smith to request approvals or exceptions; please note that exceptions will be rare. Limited child care for under-10s will be available. All approvals will be noted and included in planning. Unapproved, or surprise exceptions, will result in guests being asked to leave.
Word of the Day on November 8, 2026
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