山芋一般指番薯，吃過番薯的人都知道，它甜的時候像蜜，讓人垂涎三尺和愛不釋手，通常我們都是吃煮熟的番薯，但是 a hot potato 讓人變得很矛盾，吃又太燙，不吃又流口水，特別是肚子餓的時候，它直譯“一個熟的番薯”的意思，但它是一個習語，意為“燙手山芋；棘手的問題”，寓意：
any subject which several folks are talking about and which is frequently argued
幾個人在談論並且經常爭論的話題
something that is hard or terrible to handle
難以處理或難以處理的事物
a problem or situation that is difficult to deal with and causes a lot of disagreement
不易處理的問題或情況，引起很多分歧
an issue or question about which people have different opinions and feel very strongly
一個人們有不同意見和強烈感受的問題
a controversial situation that is awkward to deal with
難以處理的有爭議的局面
a delicate or contentious matter which many people do not want to talk about
許多人不願談論的微妙或有爭議的事情
例如：
The issue of gun control is a political hot potato in the United States.
槍支管制問題在美國是一個政治燙手山芋。
The legality of abortion is a hot potato in many countries around the world.
墮胎的合法性在世界許多國家都是一個棘手的問題。
I never discuss about anyone's religion, it can be a hot potato.
我從不談論任何人的宗教信仰，這可能是個燙手山芋。
The party members are not speaking on this topic as it is a political hot potato.
這個話題是政治上的燙手山芋，黨員們不談這個話題。
The government's decision to curb benefits to some sections of society is like a hot potato.
政府決定限制對社會某些階層的福利就像燙手山芋。
很多東西都是相生相剋的，好的東西很多人都趨之若鶩，但是好的東西都不容易得到，需要付出很多的努力，有的時候是歇斯底里的，這個就像奮鬥目標，別人只看到結果，但過程自己全承受。
