A big grey animal which features in the phrase
elephant in the room. Here it can mean anything you like that reminds you of an elephant in a confined space, such as:
1) A thing
that's big, really big, and everybody is embarassed by the sight of it, so they pretend it isn't there: maybe it will go away.
2) Something so big you can think of nothing else but it.
3) A thing too big to fit, but after a while you get used to it, maybe even get to like it; it defines a scary new lifestyle.
All of these describe teenage obsessions, hence the title of
Gus van Sant's teenage obsession movie Elephant.
"
Elephant, what
elephant?"
"I'd like two eggs and an elephant, please. Oops, sorry, I meant two eggs and a sausage"
"Please
be gentle, this is my
first time with an elephant"