Question Why is a useless gift or possession called a "white elephant? Answer White elephants were rare even in Siam (the modern Thailand). If you found one the emperor automatically owned it and you couldn't harm it. When the emperor wanted to punish someone, he gave him or her a white elephant as a "gift." They couldn't ride it or work it, but they still had to take care of it and clean up after it. And you know what elephants do besides eat. So the gift was useless. Hence the expression.     (Source: WHO PUT THE BUTTER IN BUTTERFLY? by David Feldman)