Question of the Day #820

Purpose is a divisive concept, a 'hot potato' for all brands - should organisations let it define everything they do, or is it something that crumbles when scrutinised?

From the lede of this article at Prolific North.

  上記の文で、hot potatoの意味は？
In the sentence above, what does "hot potato" mean?

  答えは、コメントに書いてください。
Write your answer in the Comments.

明日、ここに答えを書きます。
I will add the answer and other remarks here tomorrow.

 

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解答

意味：
英辞郎によると、

1. ホットポテト、焼きジャガイモ
2. 厄介な［扱いにくい・不快な］問題、難問、難題、手に余るもの
3. 困難な立場
4. 〔政治家などの〕スキャンダル
5. ホットポテト◆子どもの遊び。ボールやお手玉のような物体を次々と別の人に投げ渡す。一定の時点でそれを持っていた人は失格となり、ゲームから脱落。最後まで残った人が勝ち。

問題文の場合は、2番の訳になります。下記、英語の定義でなぜこのような言い方をするのかがわかると思います。  

Answer

According to The Free Dictionary:

A sensitive situation or controversial issue that is difficult to handle and thus gets passed from one person to the next (like a potato that is too hot to hold).

 

Examples

• Pricing policy is another hot potato.
• The abortion issue is a political hot potato in the United States.
• But the reality, that is, a proposed solution, was not offered to us, and remains a hot potato for the next presidency.
• I sure don’t want to have to deal with that hot potato.
• The political candidate knew the issue was a hot potato, so he deferred to his chief of staff, who directed questions to the committee chairperson.

 

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