"white elephant"

A white elephant is an idiom for a valuable but burdensome possession of which its owner cannot dispose and whose cost (particularly cost of upkeep) is out of proportion to its usefulness or worth.The term derives from the story that the kings of Siam (now Thailand) were accustomed to make a present of one of these animals to courtiers who had rendered themselves obnoxious,in order to ruin the recipient by the cost of its maintenance.In modern usage,it is an object,scheme,business venture,facility,etc.,considered to be without use or value.
白象、大白象,词源自英语“White Elephant”,指一项很贵重,需要很高昂费用维持,但却难有巨大经济效益的资产.这名词的来源有不同说法,一般认为是1901年,当时的纽约巨人棒球队（今旧金山巨人）经理John McGraw评论费城商人Benjamin Shibe收购当时的费城运动家棒球队（今奥克兰运动家）时说的.当时,运动员队经理Connie Mack选择了象作为球队的标志及吉祥物,球队有时被称为白象.
白象词源的另一个说法,是从前泰国国王如果不喜欢某人,便会送一只大白象给他.白象是稀有且珍贵的动物,受到保护,不可被*,但饲养起来的耗费却十分庞大,因而往往导致受赠白象者苦不堪言.