A problem, situation, etc. that is difficult to deal with and causes a lot of disagreement
The inference is that a hot potato is too hot to handle. It is derived from drop like a hot potato, meaning to abandon something as quickly as possible. Coined in the mid-nineteenth century, the full phrase has fallen somewhat out of fashion in recent decades, leaving us with just the overheated tuber at its heart.
It also lends its name to a party game where participants pass an object as quickly as they can.
Example
>The gun control issue is a political hot potato in the United States.
> It is better not to debate about anyone’s faith, it can be a hot potato