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Basic English QUESTION #11610
Question 1
The idiom “a white elephant” refers to something that is:
  • very beautiful
  • useless and costly✔️
  • looks ugly
  • None of these
Correct Answer Explanation

A white elephant is a well-known idiom for a possession that is expensive to maintain but of little practical use or value. The origin traces to the tradition of rare white elephants being gifted to disfavored courtiers in Southeast Asia — the recipient could neither refuse nor afford the upkeep. The phrase now means any burdensome, costly, and useless thing.

Correct Answer: B — useless and costly.