White Elephant
A white elephant is a possession that is burdensome and causes more trouble than it’s worth. White elephants, though not common, are real and they were once considered highly sacred creatures in Thailand. However, they were also used as passive-aggressive form of punishment. According to the legend, if a subordinate or rival angered a Thai king, the king could give the unlucky fellow a white elephant as a gift. While supposedly a reward, the creatures were so outrageously expensive to feed and shelter, that caring for one often drove the owner into financial ruin.