Hot potato

Meaning

A subject or issue that is sensitive or controversial and is therefore difficult to deal with. People avoid it because they don't want to be the one holding it when the clock runs out.

Business, political

Used in a sentence

• The new budget cuts have become a hot potato that nobody in the office wants to touch.
• The project delay is a hot potato, so the manager is avoiding all questions about it.
• Don't hand me that hot potato of a complaint; deal with it yourself.