see the elephant

1. Gaining true and valuable life experience of the world, whether negative or positive. Primarily heard in US. I've never understood those people who go to college, get jobs, and get married in the same town where they grew up—surely you'd want to get out and see the elephant a bit, no? I've seen the elephant in my day, kid, so don't talk to me about making sacrifices or having a hard life.

2. To experience military combat. Primarily heard in US. You have images of seeing the elephant the moment you land on foreign shores, but you actually spend most of your time sitting around at the base. The war deprived the world of millions of young men, many of whom were seeing the elephant for the very first time.

See also: elephant, see

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

see the elephant

Experience more than one wants to, learn a hard lesson; also, see combat, especially for the first time. For example, After the expedition lost two climbers in an avalanche, they had seen the elephant and turned back , or On his first tour of duty he saw the elephant. This slangy expression, first recorded in 1835, alludes to having seen all the sights one can see, including that rare beast, and returning home unimpressed or disappointed.

See also: elephant, see

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

see the elephant

AMERICAN

If you see the elephant, you experience something very extreme, especially war. We marched all day — we were going to see the elephant at last.

See also: elephant, see

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

see the elephant

see the world; get experience of life. US

An elephant is used here to symbolize or typify something which is extremely remarkable or exotic.

1994 Fighting Firearms These men have all seen the elephant and represent a typical cross-section of the…staff in general.

See also: elephant, see

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

See also:

put on weight
a game plan
game plan
a guy thing
a turn of phrase
in layman's terms
how the other half lives
communicate with
communicate with (one)
get, have, gain, etc. the upper hand

References in classic literature

When a driver boasts of his skill and bravery the other drivers say, "And when didst thou see the elephants dance?"

Jungle Book

"I think she might see the elephant, if you ask me."

Brownsville visitors ride into history

词组	see the elephant
释义	see the elephant see the elephant 1. Gaining true and valuable life experience of the world, whether negative or positive. Primarily heard in US. I've never understood those people who go to college, get jobs, and get married in the same town where they grew up—surely you'd want to get out and see the elephant a bit, no? I've seen the elephant in my day, kid, so don't talk to me about making sacrifices or having a hard life. 2. To experience military combat. Primarily heard in US. You have images of seeing the elephant the moment you land on foreign shores, but you actually spend most of your time sitting around at the base. The war deprived the world of millions of young men, many of whom were seeing the elephant for the very first time. See also: elephant, see Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. see the elephant Experience more than one wants to, learn a hard lesson; also, see combat, especially for the first time. For example, After the expedition lost two climbers in an avalanche, they had seen the elephant and turned back , or On his first tour of duty he saw the elephant. This slangy expression, first recorded in 1835, alludes to having seen all the sights one can see, including that rare beast, and returning home unimpressed or disappointed. See also: elephant, see The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. see the elephant AMERICAN If you see the elephant, you experience something very extreme, especially war. We marched all day — we were going to see the elephant at last. See also: elephant, see Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. see the elephant see the world; get experience of life. US An elephant is used here to symbolize or typify something which is extremely remarkable or exotic. 1994 Fighting Firearms These men have all seen the elephant and represent a typical cross-section of the…staff in general. See also: elephant, see Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary See also: put on weight a game plan game plan a guy thing a turn of phrase in layman's terms how the other half lives communicate with communicate with (one) get, have, gain, etc. the upper hand References in classic literature When a driver boasts of his skill and bravery the other drivers say, "And when didst thou see the elephants dance?" Jungle Book "I think she might see the elephant, if you ask me." Brownsville visitors ride into history
随便看	delight delight by delighted delighted to have you delighted to have you here delighted to make your acquaintance delight in delight in (someone or something) delight (someone) by (doing something) delight (someone) with (something) delight with delish deliver deliver from deliver of deliver on deliver on (something) deliver (someone) from (someone or something) deliver (someone or oneself) of (something) deliver (someone or something) to (someone or something) deliver (something) up to (one) deliver the goods deliver the message to Garcia deliver to deliver up to