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The term white elephant refers to an asset that incurs costs greater than its value and that cannot be easily disposed of.
People have long considered the Millennium Dome to be a white elephant, but its recent renovation is changing some people’s minds.
Under one theory, the term originated from English understanding of Siamese kings presenting white elephants as gifts. As white elephants were considered sacred, they could not be used for work but required significant costs for upkeep, and so English people thought of them as a burden placed upon the recipient. In Thailand, white elephants are seen as having great value, a strong contrast to the term’s usage in English.
Pojem bílý slon označuje aktivum, které přináší větší náklady, než jakou má hodnotu, a čeho se nelze snadno zbavit.
Lidé dlouho pokládali londýnský Millenium Dome za bílého slona, ale po poslední renovaci někteří lidé mění názor.
Podle jedné z teorií tento termín pochází z anglického vnímání toho, že králové Siamu udělovali bílé slony coby dary. Jelikož bílí sloni byli pokládáni za posvátné, nemohli být využívání k práci, ale vyžadovali značné náklady na údržbu, takže Angličané je považovali za břemeno uvalené na příjemce daru. V Thajsku jsou ale bílí sloni pokládáni za velmi hodnotné, což je v silném protikladu k tomu, jak se termín používá v angličtině.
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English Editorial Services’ mission is to assist international businesses and organizations of all sizes to communicate clearly, correctly, and persuasively with their business partners and target audiences.
Simply subscribe to receive our Business Term of the Day at no charge to your inbox each business day, with explanation in English and Czech.
