C2idiommoneyIELTS-friendly
a white elephant
USUK
something expensive that is useless or costs more to keep than it is worth
Often used for public buildings and projects. Vietnamese news uses 'dự án đắp chiếu' for the same idea.
In context
The huge stadium built for the games became a white elephant that nobody uses.
Critics fear the new airport will be a white elephant, with hardly any flights.
More idioms about money
- a cash cowa product or business that steadily makes a lot of money
- a false economya way of saving money that ends up costing more later
- a gold minea business or thing that makes a lot of money, or a rich source of something
- a golden handshakea large sum of money paid to someone when they leave a job
- a nest eggan amount of money saved over time for the future, such as retirement