ə hɑt pəˈteɪtoʊ
- Literally:
- A potato that has just been cooked and is too hot to hold
What does "a hot potato" mean?
- A controversial issue or situation that is awkward to deal with
- A problem that no one wants to handle or take responsibility for
Examples
- Immigration policy is a hot potato that politicians try to avoid.
- The budget cuts became a hot potato passed between departments.
- The CEO dropped that hot potato onto the HR department.
Origin
Dating from the mid-19th century, this idiom refers to the difficulty of holding a hot potato—you want to get rid of it quickly. In political and social contexts, it describes issues that are too risky or controversial to touch.
How to use it
Very common in political and workplace discussions. Often used with 'drop' (drop a hot potato) meaning to quickly abandon a problematic issue.
Similar expressions
Opposites
Related idioms
- on the same page
In agreement or having the same understanding
- cut to the chase
To get to the point without wasting time
- hit the ground running
To start a new job or activity with immediate effectiveness
- in the loop
Included in the flow of information
- the bottom line
The most important point or factor
- get up to speed
To become fully informed about a situation
Use it in a practice answer
Try "a hot potato" in a CELPIP-style Speaking or Writing task. The AI feedback tells you whether your word choice worked.