English Idioms
Comprehensive resource for understanding and mastering English idioms
Hot potato
Meaning
The literal meaning of the idiom "hot potato" is a spud that is boiled in hot water and served in a hot dish. However, metaphorically speaking, it refers to a situation or problem that is uncomfortable or difficult to deal with. It can also refer to a topic that people avoid discussing due to its contentious nature.
Usage
- John's boss passed him the hot potato when he made a mistake during the meeting.
- The new employee was tasked with handling the company's declining sales, but she felt overwhelmed and passed it on to her colleagues.
- The government has been trying to address the issue of climate change, but they haven't come up with a solution yet. They keep passing the hot potato to each other.
- The political party was asked to take action on the issue of gun control, but they didn't want to touch it and passed it along to their opponents.
- When the CEO asked me to lead the project team, I realized that everyone else had been avoiding it for months. I felt like I was getting passed the hot potato.
Roots and History
The origin of this idiom can be traced back to the 17th century when people used to serve potatoes in a hot dish called a "potato pie" or "hot pot". However, if the person holding the potato got too comfortable and didn't let go quickly, they would burn their hands. This led to the phrase "burn your hands with the hot potato". Over time, the meaning of the idiom evolved to refer to a situation or problem that people want to avoid dealing with.
Synonyms in English
- A Pandora's Box
- A can of worms
- A thorny issue
- A minefield
- A hornet's nest
Synonyms in other languages
- French - Un pot du sang (literally "a blood pot")
- German - Ein Haufen Schmutz (literally "a pile of dirt")
- Spanish - Un saco de tierra (literally "a sack of earth")
- Italian - Un bicchieri di ghiacciata (literally "a glass of ice cream")
- Portuguese - Um caldeirão bolido (literally "a boiling pot")