a hot potato
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Also seen as: hot potato
Sense 1
Meaning · English
A controversial issue or situation that is awkward or unpleasant to deal with.
Where it’s used:
Used
Widespread English
Sources & notes
Imported from Wikipedia “English-language idioms” (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-29), pending review.
Sense 2
Meaning · English
A controversial issue that is difficult to handle
Literally: a potato that is hot
Where it’s used:
Used
Widespread English
Sources & notes
Listed in Wiktionary’s “English idioms” category (retrieved 2026-07-29); definition pending editorial review. Definition drafted by AI (@cf/meta/llama-3.3-70b-instruct-fp8-fast) and auto-approved by rule on 2026-07-30; pending editor spot-check.
Common questions
What does “a hot potato” mean?
A controversial issue or situation that is awkward or unpleasant to deal with.
Is “a hot potato” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.