Transcription
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
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- [hot puh-tey-toh, -tuh]
- /hɒt pəˈteɪ toʊ, -tə/
- /hɒt pəˈteɪtəʊ/
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [hot puh-tey-toh, -tuh]
- /hɒt pəˈteɪ toʊ, -tə/
Definitions of hot potato words
- noun hot potato Informal. a situation or issue that is difficult, unpleasant, or risky to deal with. 1
- noun hot potato British Informal. a baked potato. 1
- noun hot potato situation, issue: difficult 1
- countable noun hot potato If you describe a problem or issue as a hot potato, you mean that it is very difficult and nobody wants to deal with it. 0
- phrase hot potato You can refer to a difficult subject that people disagree on as a hot potato. 0
- noun hot potato an awkward or delicate matter 0
Information block about the term
Origin of hot potato
First appearance:
before 1840 One of the 33% newest English words
First recorded in 1840-50
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Hot potato
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
hot potato popularity
A pretty common term. Usually people know it’s meaning, but prefer to use a more spread out synonym. About 36% of English native speakers know the meaning and use word.
According to our data about 66% of words is more used. This is a rare but used term. It occurs in the pages of specialized literature and in the speech of educated people.
hot potato usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for hot potato
noun hot potato
- bone of contention — If a particular matter or issue is a bone of contention, it is the subject of a disagreement or argument.
- controversy — Controversy is a lot of discussion and argument about something, often involving strong feelings of anger or disapproval.
- debate — A debate is a discussion about a subject on which people have different views.
- scandal — a disgraceful or discreditable action, circumstance, etc.
- moot point — open to discussion or debate; debatable; doubtful: Whether that was the cause of their troubles is a moot point.
Antonyms for hot potato
noun hot potato
- miracle — an effect or extraordinary event in the physical world that surpasses all known human or natural powers and is ascribed to a supernatural cause.
- good luck — good fortune
- happiness — the quality or state of being happy.
- success — the favorable or prosperous termination of attempts or endeavors; the accomplishment of one's goals.
- calm — A calm person does not show or feel any worry, anger, or excitement.
See also
Matching words
- Words starting with h
- Words starting with ho
- Words starting with hot
- Words starting with hotp
- Words starting with hotpo
- Words starting with hotpot
- Words starting with hotpota
- Words starting with hotpotat
- Words starting with hotpotato