Definition of “white elephant”

"'Just that it's been a sort of white elephant to her ever since her father died.

According to Buddhist legend, the Buddha was conceived after his mother saw a white elephant enter her side in a dream.

But critics want the Lottery's culture of funding white elephant projects brought to an end.

Frieda now has to decide whether to pay extra and have a white elephant stall at her husband's funeral.

Leading water economists say the state risks financing a white elephant at enormous cost.

Rather than be defeated, they aim to solve the problems of one white elephant by creating another.

The diocesan board of finance had already classed the church as a white elephant which required too much money too often.

Without these guarantees and subsidy it will be near impossible to manage the white elephant at least in the short-term.

`They're a white elephant , and government will be delighted that we're providing employment.