a hot potato

/ə hɒt pəˈteɪtəʊ/◆idiom

controversial issue

The tax reform became a hot potato for the politicians.

The tax reform turned into a controversial issue that politicians didn't want to discuss.

informal

A subject or problem that is difficult, controversial, or risky to deal with.

The CEO avoided the question because it was a hot potato.

The CEO dodged the question because it was a risky, controversial issue.

Often used in politics, business, and media to describe topics people prefer to ignore.

handle a hot potatomanage a difficult or controversial issuepass the hot potatoshift responsibility for a contentious matter to someone else

shift responsibility

delicate or controversial topic

Make sure the context makes it clear you are speaking figuratively; otherwise listeners may picture an actual hot potato.

Never use "hot potato" when you mean a literal potato that is hot; the idiom always conveys a difficult or controversial issue.

First recorded in early 20th‑century American slang; likens a literal hot potato, which is hard to hold, to a problem that is hard to deal with.

Use when referring to a matter that people avoid because it may cause trouble or disagreement.

hot

having high temperature

adjective

English Dictionary