Hi everyone! Thank you for tuning in to Time for English.

I was translating a document and came across this idiom: There's an elephant in the room. Are you familiar with the expression?

Elephants are big animals. In fact, they're the largest land animals on earth. If there's an elephant in the room, it's impossible not to see it. If you don't see it, then that's because you don't want to see it.

So, if someone says there is an elephant in the room, it means there is an obvious problem that people don't want to talk about, because talking about it may be awkward, embarrassing or uncomfortable. For example, you're having a family get-together. Great dinner, great conversation. But you know there is an elephant in the room. Your sister has just separated.

Now. Would you like to try a quiz? I'll give you three options. Please listen carefully and choose the one that is TRUE. Ready?

If someone says there's an elephant in the room, the elephant refers to:

1. a big animal

2. a big house

3. a big problem