white elephant

简明释义

废船

英英释义

例句

1.The lavish gift from the company turned out to be a white elephant 无用的负担 that nobody wanted.

公司赠送的奢华礼物最终成了一个无用的负担，没有人想要。

2.The old stadium became a white elephant 无用的负担 for the city after the team moved to a new arena.

这座旧体育场在球队迁往新竞技场后，成为了城市的无用的负担。

3.Many people consider their unused swimming pools to be a white elephant 无用的负担 that costs more to maintain than to enjoy.

许多人认为他们闲置的游泳池是一个无用的负担，维护成本高于享受成本。

4.The abandoned factory is now seen as a white elephant 无用的负担 for the community, attracting vandalism.

这座废弃的工厂现在被社区视为一个无用的负担，吸引了破坏行为。

5.Her collection of antique furniture has become a white elephant 无用的负担 that takes up too much space in her home.

她的古董家具收藏已经成为一个无用的负担，占据了她家太多空间。

作文

The term white elephant refers to a possession that is more of a burden than a benefit. The origin of this phrase dates back to ancient times when kings in Southeast Asia would gift rare and sacred white elephants to their subjects. While these elephants were considered holy, they were also incredibly expensive to maintain, leading to financial strain for the recipient. In modern usage, the term has evolved to describe various situations, particularly in the context of gifts or projects that require excessive resources without providing significant value.In our society, we often encounter white elephants in different forms. One common example is the concept of extravagant gifts. Imagine receiving a luxurious item that you have no use for, such as a high-end gadget that you neither want nor need. While it may seem generous at first glance, the reality is that maintaining or storing such an item can become a hassle. This situation reflects the essence of a white elephant: something that appears valuable but ultimately becomes a burden.Another context in which we find white elephants is in the realm of public projects. Governments sometimes invest heavily in infrastructure or facilities that do not serve their intended purpose effectively. For instance, a new sports stadium may be built with grand expectations, only to be underutilized after its completion. The financial resources spent on constructing and maintaining such a facility can lead to significant debt, making it a classic example of a white elephant.Moreover, the concept of a white elephant extends to personal relationships as well. People may find themselves in friendships or commitments that drain their energy without providing joy or support. These relationships can feel like a white elephant, where the emotional investment outweighs the benefits, leaving one feeling burdened rather than fulfilled.To further illustrate this point, consider the phenomenon of unused gym memberships. Many individuals sign up for gym memberships with the intention of improving their health, but often, these memberships go unused. The membership fee continues to be a recurring expense, turning what was meant to be a positive investment into a financial white elephant. This situation serves as a reminder that not all investments yield the desired returns, and sometimes, we must evaluate whether our possessions or commitments truly add value to our lives.In conclusion, the concept of a white elephant serves as a valuable metaphor for evaluating our possessions, commitments, and investments. It reminds us to consider the true value of what we hold dear and to recognize when something has become a burden rather than a blessing. By identifying and addressing our own white elephants, we can free ourselves from unnecessary burdens and focus on what truly enriches our lives. Ultimately, understanding this phrase allows us to cultivate a more intentional and fulfilling existence, prioritizing what genuinely matters over what merely appears valuable.

短语白象指的是一种拥有的东西，它的负担大于收益。这个短语的起源可以追溯到古代，当时东南亚的国王会把稀有而神圣的白象赠送给他们的臣民。虽然这些大象被视为神圣，但它们的维护成本极高，导致接受者财务上的压力。在现代用法中，这个术语已经演变为描述各种情况，特别是在礼物或项目的上下文中，这些情况需要过多的资源而没有提供显著的价值。在我们的社会中，我们常常以不同的形式遇到白象。一个常见的例子是奢华礼物的概念。想象一下，收到一件你没有用处的奢侈品，比如一台高端电子设备，你既不想要也不需要。虽然乍一看似乎很慷慨，但现实是，维护或存放这样的物品可能变得麻烦。这种情况反映了白象的本质：看似有价值的东西最终却成为负担。我们还可以在公共项目的领域找到白象的概念。政府有时会在基础设施或设施上投入大量资金，这些设施并没有有效地发挥其预期的作用。例如，一个新的体育场可能在建成时寄予厚望，却在完工后使用率低下。用于建设和维护这样的设施的财政资源可能导致重大债务，使其成为经典的白象。此外，白象的概念也扩展到个人关系中。人们可能会发现自己处于耗费精力而没有带来快乐或支持的友谊或承诺中。这些关系可能感觉像是一头白象，情感投资超过了收益，让人感到负担而不是满足。为了进一步说明这一点，考虑一下未使用的健身房会员资格现象。许多人为了改善健康而注册健身房会员，但往往这些会员资格未被使用。会员费用继续成为一项经常性支出，将本应成为积极投资的事情变成了财务上的白象。这种情况提醒我们，并不是所有的投资都能产生预期的回报，有时我们必须评估我们的财产或承诺是否真正为我们的生活增值。总之，白象的概念作为评估我们的财产、承诺和投资的宝贵隐喻。它提醒我们考虑我们所珍视之物的真实价值，并认识到何时某样东西已成为负担而非祝福。通过识别和解决我们自己的白象，我们可以摆脱不必要的负担，专注于真正丰富我们生活的事物。最终，理解这个短语使我们能够培养更有意图和充实的存在，优先考虑真正重要的东西，而不是仅仅看起来有价值的东西。