Test Your Vocabulary

Take Our 10-Question Quiz

Name That Thing

Take our visual vocab quiz

Test Your Knowledge »

True or False?

A quick quiz about stuff worth knowing

Take It Now »

Join Us on FB & Twitter

Get the Word of the Day and More

Facebook | Twitter

hot potato


hot potato

noun

Definition of HOT POTATO

: a controversial question or issue that involves unpleasant or dangerous consequences for anyone dealing with it

Examples of HOT POTATO

  1. He tried to avoid taking a strong stand on political hot potatoes like abortion.

First Known Use of HOT POTATO

1950

Browse

Next Word in the Dictionary: hot–press (noun)
Previous Word in the Dictionary: hot pot
All Words Near: hot potato

Seen & Heard

What made you want to look up hot potato? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).