A Hot Potato Idiom: Meaning, Origin, Usage & Exercises

The idiom ‘a hot potato’ is one of those useful idioms for IELTS Speaking to score Band 8.0+ that almost makes you feel the discomfort it describes. Just like a freshly cooked potato that is too hot to hold, this idiom refers to a sensitive, controversial, or risky issue that people want to avoid handling for long.

This blog explores the definition, history, and application of the idiom ‘a hot potato’ in relation to the IELTS, providing practice questions to help you solidify your knowledge.

A Hot Potato Idiom: Meaning

The idiom ‘a hot potato’ refers to a problem or topic that is difficult, controversial, or embarrassing, and therefore quickly passed from one person to another to avoid responsibility. 

Just as no one wants to hold a hot object for long, people often avoid dealing with issues that may attract criticism, cause conflict, or lead to negative consequences. The idiom highlights avoidance, discomfort, and urgency rather than physical danger.

Origin of ‘A Hot Potato’ Idiom

The idiom ‘a hot potato’ originated in the 1800s from an older expression, “drop like a hot potato”, which means to disown something. When the potato is baked or boiled, it retains water and heat inside it. Hence, it is advisable that hot potatoes should be handled cautiously.

Over time, it survived as it is easy-to-understand physical imagery, has a strong relevance to politics and society, and has flexible usage across formal and informal contexts. As a result, it became firmly associated with public debates, policy decisions, and moral dilemmas.

A Hot Potato Idiom Usage

Here are some examples of sentences that use the idiom ‘a hot potato’:

• Gender equality is still a hot potato in many parts of the world.
• Election rallies are becoming a hot potato for citizens as it badly affects the flow of traffic.
• “I was not expecting this hot potato.”
• The issue of employment is becoming a hot potato for the government.
• COVID is causing a great deal of problems to many people, it is a hot potato at present.
• According to the receptionist, the position of the company is a hot potato nowadays.
• The employee, because of his remark, has landed himself with something of a hot potato recently.
• We all know that talking about politics is a kind of hot potato nowadays.
• I prefer not to discuss anyone’s religious beliefs. It can be a hot potato.
• Climate change has become a hot potato for many governments during elections.
• The manager treated the salary dispute like a hot potato and postponed the decision.
• Discussing corruption openly is still a hot potato in several societies.

A Hot Potato Idiom: Synonyms and Related Phrases

You can find a common idioms list for IELTS Speaking related to the idiom 'a hot potato', along with its meaning and usage, in the table below.

A Hot Potato Idiom: Detailed Usage in IELTS Contexts

We will now look at how the ‘a hot potato’ idiom can be effectively used in a variety of IELTS Speaking contexts using the sample answers that are given below.

IELTS Speaking Part 2

• Cue Card: Describe a social issue that people avoid talking about.
• Answer Excerpt: “One issue that many people treat as a hot potato is mental health. Although awareness is improving, many families still avoid open discussions due to stigma and misunderstanding.”

IELTS Speaking Part 3

• Question: Why do governments avoid certain social problems?
• Sample Answer: “Governments often see controversial issues as a hot potato because addressing them may lead to protests, loss of public support, or political instability.”

A Hot Potato Idiom: Practice Exercises

You must now assess how well you understand the idiom ‘a hot potato’. You will accomplish this by working through the following exercises, which are intended to test your comprehension and use of this idiom in a variety of situations.

1 The manager solved the hot potato easily within five minutes.

2 Recycling plastic bottles is a hot potato because everyone supports it.

3 The politician proudly grabbed the hot potato during the debate.

4 A hot potato means a difficult personal goal that requires effort.

1 The issue was so controversial that nobody wanted to talk about it.

2 The minister avoided the question because it was politically sensitive.

3 The company kept shifting responsibility for the problem.

4 Discussing reservation policies often leads to strong public reactions.

A Hot Potato Idiom: Answer Key for Practice Exercises

To conclude, the idiom ‘a hot potato’ powerfully captures the idea of controversial issues that people prefer to avoid rather than resolve. For IELTS candidates, it is especially valuable because it enhances answers on politics, society, and ethics, demonstrates idiomatic control at the Band 7+ level, and adds precision and maturity to speaking responses. 

Useful Links:

• The Silent Majority Idiom: Meaning, Origin, Usage & Exercises
• When Pigs Fly – Idiom of the day for IELTS Speaking & Writing
• Stir Up A Hornet’s Nest Idiom: Meaning, Origin, Usage & Exercises
•  Elephant in the Room - Idiom of the Day for IELTS
• Apple of Discord - Idiom of the Day for IELTS Speaking & Writing
• Mind Maps to Improve Your IELTS Vocabulary