Office Gift Exchange Idea Help

Discussion in 'Community Discussion' started by See Post, Nov 30, 2005.

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  1. See Post

    See Post New Member

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    Originally Posted By Mrs ElderP

    Kimrue's explanation of how a white elephant gift exchange works is pretty accurate with my experiance. However I would add that the term has some meaning beyond that:

    An unwanted or useless item, as in "The cottage at the lake had become a real white elephant, too run down to sell, yet costly to keep up, or Grandma's ornate silver is a white elephant; no one wants it but it's too valuable to discard." This expression comes from a legendary former Siamese custom whereby an albino elephant, considered sacred, could only be owned by the king. The king would bestow such an animal on a subject with whom he was displeased and wait until the high cost of feeding the animal, which could not be slaughtered, ruined the owner. The story was told in England in the 1600s, and in the 1800s the term began to be used figuratively.

    Source: The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

    So, White Elephant gift exchanges often inclucde lots of dorky stuff, that you are anxious to re-gift.
     
    #21 See Post, Dec 5, 2005
  2. See Post

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    Originally Posted By TomSawyer

    We did a White Elephant exchange last year.

    The stuff my wife and I got wound up in the Goodwill bin before we even got home.
     
    #22 See Post, Dec 5, 2005
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    Originally Posted By melekalikimaka

    From one of those mugs:

    Hard Work Pays Off After Time,
    But Laziness Always Pays Off Now

    Ding, ding, ding! My new motto.
     
    #23 See Post, Dec 5, 2005
  4. See Post

    See Post New Member

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    Originally Posted By melekalikimaka

    From one of those mugs:

    Hard Work Pays Off After Time,
    But Laziness Always Pays Off Now

    Ding, ding, ding! My new motto.
     
    #24 See Post, Dec 5, 2005
  5. See Post

    See Post New Member

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    Originally Posted By TiggerPooh1973

    Oh OK, got it. I have been to one a few years ago and we are going to one next Saturday too. She calls it something else though, can't remember quite what.
     
    #25 See Post, Dec 5, 2005
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    See Post New Member

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    Originally Posted By Labuda

    "From one of those mugs:

    Hard Work Pays Off After Time,
    But Laziness Always Pays Off Now

    Ding, ding, ding! My new motto."

    heheeh! How funny is that!!!! I posted that saying in the chat room I'm in at work right now as soon as I read the mugs! hehehe
     
    #26 See Post, Dec 5, 2005
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    Originally Posted By Kimrue

    Mrs. Elder P...thank you!!!!! I never knew why we called it "white elephant" thanks for the info, I'll add it to my holiday email that I send out to my family....thanks
     
    #27 See Post, Dec 5, 2005
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    Originally Posted By poohbear14

    Kimrue - I think your version is call "Bad Santa" gift exchange.
     
    #28 See Post, Dec 5, 2005
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