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hot potato

 
Dictionary: hot potato
 

n. Informal.

A problem that is so controversial or sensitive that those handling it risk unpleasant consequences: gun control—a political hot potato.


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Idioms: hot potato
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A problem so controversial and sensitive that it is risky to deal with. For example, Gun control is a political hot potato. This term, dating from the mid-1800s, alludes to the only slightly older expression drop like a hot potato, meaning "to abandon something or someone quickly" (lest one be burned). The idiom alludes to the fact that cooked potatoes retain considerable heat because they contain a lot of water.


 
WordNet: hot potato
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Note: click on a word meaning below to see its connections and related words.

The noun has one meaning:

Meaning #1: a difficult situation


 
Shopping: hot potato
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hot potato game
 
 

 

Copyrights:

Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2007. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.  Read more
Idioms. The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.  Read more
WordNet. WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.  Read more