Metaphor for Naming Elephants in UK

[Erich Kolenaty]

Hi all,

in german we know many of these, sometimes a little different:

"Moving around the hot porridge" (um den heißen Brei herumschleichen),
the "elephant in the living room" moves to the china shop (Elefant im
Porzellanladen)

But more close to the dead moose is
"a burried dog" (da liegt der Hund begraben) and
"the corpse in the wardroom" which in german moves into the cellar (Leiche
im Keller)

Servus aus Wien
Erich
  ----- Original Message -----
  From: Vliex, Carla (cvl)
  To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
  Sent: Thursday, March 24, 2005 11:48 AM
  Subject: Re: Metaphor for Naming Elephants in UK


  hi Esther

  one thing more we all have in common, the issue's we always try to avoid.
Some metaphors we use in holland:
  - the skeleton in the cupboard (in dutch; het lijk in de kast)
  -  moving aroud the hot porridge (in dutch om de hete brij heen draaien)

  I am curious like you about other metaphors

  Met vriendelijke groet,

  drs. Carla Vliex

  ___________________________________
  Adviseur Organisatieontwikkeling

  Twynstra Gudde Adviseurs en Managers

  Stationsplein 1, 3818 LE Amersfoort
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  Telefoon 033 4677761, Fax 033 4677572
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    -----Original Message-----
    From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU]On Behalf Of Esther
Ewing
    Sent: donderdag 24 maart 2005 01:52
    To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
    Subject: Metaphor for Naming Elephants in UK


    Hi all:
    I would like to specifically address my question to those OS members in
UK or anywhere else  or to anyone who knows the answer to my question.

    In Canada many of us OS folks have used the metaphor of the Dead Moose
to signify the sticky tough issue that no one wants to discuss, that
everyone knows is there and which is blocking creativity and progress. And
that people discuss anyway privately.

    Sue Hammond and her colleague Andrea Mayfield have published a brilliant
book called The Thin Book of Naming Elephants - Discussing the
Undiscussibles  (www.thinbookpublishing.com) and if you haven't seen it or
read it, you should - it's brilliant.

    Naming Elephants is a metaphor that seems easily understood and
recognized in the US (and indeed in Canada). However, in some discussions
with clients in the UK, it has had to be explained.

    Does anyone know what the equivalent metaphor might be in UK?  This
would help me market my services to my UK clients.

    And for fun,  I would be curious to know what the equivalent metaphor
would be in other parts of Europe or the rest of the world (translated
literally into English). For example, is it un chat mort (a dead cat) or
something else in German or Danish or Swedish etc. What do you say in
Australia for example? Or New Zealand? Or Scotland?

    Esther Ewing
    The Change Alliance
    330 East 38th St., Suite 53K
    New York, NY 10016, USA
    Telephone: 212-661-6024, Fax: 866-296-6712

    Assisting organizations to build capability
    www.changealliance.com
    Certified Panoramic Feedback Distributor (360 instrument)
    www.panoramicfeedback.com
    Certified Kolbe Distributor: www.kolbe.com
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