hot potato
noun
: a controversial question or issue that involves unpleasant or dangerous consequences for anyone dealing with it
Examples of hot potato in a Sentence
He tried to avoid taking a strong stand on political hot potatoes like abortion.
Recent Examples on the Web
Venezuela has become both a byword for failure and, curiously, something of an ideological hot potato, a rhetorical device dropped into political conversations around the world.
—
Moisés Naím, Foreign Affairs, 27 Jan. 2020
People who were at the party told Queen Creek police, according to a police report, that Turner first yanked a chain from Lord's friend and used it to play hot potato with other Goons.
—Elena Santa Cruz, The Arizona Republic, 7 Oct. 2024
Gaza has been a hot potato on the campaign trail, and this is a conflict that the winning party will inherit.
—Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2024
Popular on Variety That frankness may make the film something of a hot potato for distributors, and has duly drawn protests from Spanish animal-rights groups ahead of its world premiere in competition at the San Sebastián Film Festival.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 28 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for hot potato 
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Moisés Naím, Foreign Affairs, 27 Jan. 2020
People who were at the party told Queen Creek police, according to a police report, that Turner first yanked a chain from Lord's friend and used it to play hot potato with other Goons.
—Elena Santa Cruz, The Arizona Republic, 7 Oct. 2024
Gaza has been a hot potato on the campaign trail, and this is a conflict that the winning party will inherit.
—Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2024
Popular on Variety That frankness may make the film something of a hot potato for distributors, and has duly drawn protests from Spanish animal-rights groups ahead of its world premiere in competition at the San Sebastián Film Festival.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 28 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for hot potato
Dictionary Entries Near hot potato
Cite this Entry
“Hot potato.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hot%20potato. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.
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