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800-pound gorilla

An entity that dominates its environment.

Etymology:

  • a. 1971, from a riddle: "Where does an 800-pound gorilla sleep?" / "Anywhere it wants."
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Submitted on July 07, 2010

Additional definitions for '800-pound gorilla':

800-pound gorillaSomething dangerous, menacing, or spooky that is obvious but not addressed.
800-pound gorillaSomething dangerous, menacing, or frightening that is obvious but not addressed.
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Nearby phrases

Some more phrases from our dictionary similar to 800-pound gorilla

a pint’s a pound the world aroundan ounce of prevention can be worth a p…pound outpound the pavementdon't be penny wise and pound foolishpound a beatpound outpound outpound for poundpound the pavementpenny wise and pound foolishpound sandin for a penny, in for a poundpound of flesh

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    "800-pound gorilla." Phrases.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 22 Dec. 2024. <https://www.phrases.com/phrase/800-pound-gorilla_10793>.

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