a hot potato直译的话就是烫手的洋芋，现在就常常被用来指代棘手的事情或者难缠的人。

【例句】
The Mideast conflict is really a hot potato for all politicians around the world.
中东问题对世界所有的政治家来说都是个烫手的山芋。

You need to think about it very carefully before it becomes a hot potato.
你要在事情变得棘手前仔细想清楚。