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
The ongoing legal drama surrounding the audit, approved by 72% of Massachusetts voters in the 2024 election, has become quite the political hot potato for Healey, who has publicly expressed her support for the audit, but has not gone beyond that with any substantive actions.
—
Tim Dunn, Boston Herald, 9 June 2026
Touted as a reform measure that would increase the city’s low voter turnout, the even-year proposal posed a mathematical problem that quickly became a political hot potato.
—Miami Herald, 14 May 2026
The former is a hot potato requiring careful handling, with toxic elements of the fanbase to handle, along with the challenge of actually producing a hit from JK Rowling’s books.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 25 Mar. 2026
After Wembanyama’s next attempt, all six coaches played a jocular game of hot potato amongst themselves before delivering the ball back to him at the foul line.
—Jeff McDonald, San Antonio Express-News, 21 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hot potato
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Tim Dunn, Boston Herald, 9 June 2026
Touted as a reform measure that would increase the city’s low voter turnout, the even-year proposal posed a mathematical problem that quickly became a political hot potato.
—Miami Herald, 14 May 2026
The former is a hot potato requiring careful handling, with toxic elements of the fanbase to handle, along with the challenge of actually producing a hit from JK Rowling’s books.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 25 Mar. 2026
After Wembanyama’s next attempt, all six coaches played a jocular game of hot potato amongst themselves before delivering the ball back to him at the foul line.
—Jeff McDonald, San Antonio Express-News, 21 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hot potato
Cite this Entry
“Hot potato.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hot%20potato. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
