see the elephant (English, verb)
expansion: see the elephant (third-person singular simple present sees the elephant, present participle seeing the elephant, simple past saw the elephant, past participle seen the elephant)
Senses:
glosses: To witness something unexpected and awe-inspiring.
tags: US
obsolete
slang
glosses: To be up to the latest moves; to be knowing and worldly.
tags: US
obsolete
slang
qualifier: American Civil War
glosses: To witness or participate in a battle.
tags: US
slang
glosses: Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see see, the, elephant.
Forms:
form: sees the elephant
tags: present
singular
third-person
form: seeing the elephant
tags: participle
present
form: saw the elephant
tags: past
form: seen the elephant
tags: participle
past