Why do we say 'white elephant'?

[MULTIZ321]

Why do we say 'white elephant'?


https://www.historyextra.com/period/victorian/why-do-we-say-white-elephant/


Richard

 

[DaveNV]

Pretty interesting.

So I wonder what other terms we use that have a basis in fact? Did it ever really rain cats and dogs?

Dave

 

[stmartinfan]

Fun read, especially since I need to come up with a white elephant gift for my annual get together with high school friends. We've been getting together every summer for many years but this is the first time for a white elephant. Would like to do something that reflects our youth in the ‘60s!

 

[DaveNV]

Fun read, especially since I need to come up with a white elephant gift for my annual get together with high school friends. We've been getting together every summer for many years but this is the first time for a white elephant. Would like to do something that reflects our youth in the ‘60s!

A can of AquaNet hairspray and a 45 RPM record.

Or even this: https://www.amazon.com/American-Ban...t=&hvlocphy=9031354&hvtargid=pla-571509242145

Dave

 

[DaveNV]

duplicate

 

[Ralph Sir Edward]

Speaking of white elephants. Mark Twain wrote a humorous story call The Stolen White Elephant.

 

[RonB]

@DaveNW - It never rained dogs and cats, but in mid evil England, roofs were thatched and all kinds of critters lived in the roofs. Cats and dogs frequented roofs looking for a meal and during a heavy rain, the roofs could become slippery and animals could slip off. As a side note, canopy beds became popular during this time because the canopy kept the above mentioned critters from falling in bed during the night...

 

[stmartinfan]

A can of AquaNet hairspray and a 45 RPM record.

Or even this: https://www.amazon.com/American-Bandstand-Clark-Making-Empire

Dave[/QUOTE

Good suggestions DaveNW! I expect our group went through lots of cans of AquaNet and DippityDo hair gel! We're also the era of stretch pants..the ones with the stirrup under your foot and big fluffy sweaters. I did come up the album our band recorded the year we were juniors...most of us were very competitive musicians and our band won lots of state awards, so that’s a possibility. But I expect there will be some great gifts...we're still competitive!

 

[Grammarhero]

Interesting. Reminds me of how others misinterpret thumbs down in gladiator matches. Thumbs down actually meant don’t kill the loser.