- This term likely evolved into the white elephant game played today because of how the gameplay works. Players take turns picking from a pile of wrapped gifts. If the gift is bad (inconvenient), then nobody is likely to trade the gift with you and thus, it “can’t be got rid of.” Since beige is an off-color of white, it has been used to describe the game that resembles white elephant.
Beige Elephant
compounding
(Noun) A gift exchange game similar to white elephant in the way the rules of play are set up. The difference is that instead of buying new gifts, the “gifts” used in the game are items that people are trying to get rid of.
Etymology : White elephant dates back to 1851, meaning “inconvenient thing that can’t be got rid of.” It refers to a practice of the King of Siam who would gift sacred white elephants; although the elephants were a high honor, the upkeep of them was very expensive and therefore a burden. Compounding beige elephant N beige ADJ + elephant N
Source : This concept was introduced to me by a friend from Duncan. She said that her suite got together and did this during a holiday get-together. It apparently proved the old saying that “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” But of course, like all holiday gift exchanges, somebody ended up getting screwed over with a crappy gift. “Since a lot of people weren't able to buy gifts we decided that we would do beige elephant instead.” [December 8, 2013]
Last modified: 12 December 2013