800-pound-gorilla Definition

noun
(idiomatic) An entity that dominates its environment.
Wiktionary

(idiomatic) Something dangerous, menacing, or spooky that is obvious but not addressed.

Wiktionary

Other Word Forms of 800-pound-gorilla

Noun

Singular:
800-pound-gorilla
Plural:
800-pound-gorillas

Origin of 800-pound-gorilla

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

    From Wiktionary

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