The idiom "hot potato" means a difficult or controversial issue that people are unwilling to deal with or discuss because it is uncomfortable or risky. It is used to describe a situation that is sensitive or tricky to handle, and people try to avoid it or pass it on to someone else quickly.
For example, if a company is facing a scandal, the CEO might try to pass the issue to the public relations department, who will then pass it to the legal department, and so on. In this case, the scandal is a "hot potato" that nobody wants to handle.
Another example could be a political issue that is controversial and could cause a lot of public backlash. Politicians might try to avoid discussing it or pass it on to someone else to avoid taking responsibility.
In everyday conversations, you might hear someone say, "I don't want to touch that topic, it's a hot potato." This means they do not want to get involved in the discussion because it is too sensitive or controversial.
In summary, "hot potato" is an idiom used to describe a difficult or controversial issue that people try to avoid or pass on to someone else because it is uncomfortable or risky to handle.
• The hot potato of immigration policies has been a contentious issue for years, with no easy solution in sight.
• The topic of politics is a hot potato that people tend to avoid during family gatherings.
• The issue of climate change is a hot potato that requires immediate attention from world leaders.
• I cannot hold this hot potato, it is too hot to handle.
• The CEO of the company decided to pass the hot potato of layoffs to the human resources department.
• The journalist decided to tackle the hot potato of government corruption in their latest investigative piece.
• The journalist tackled the hot potato of police brutality in her latest investigative report.
• The topic of politics is a hot potato, and people often avoid discussing it at dinner parties.
• The CEO was handed the hot potato of company layoffs, a decision that could make or break the business.
• The professor's lecture on controversial topics was a hot potato, sparking passionate debates among students.
• I don't like to hold hot potatoes because they burn my hands.
• The issue of immigration is a hot potato in many countries, with strong opinions on both sides.