the VOA Special English program WORDS
So are most ofthe expressions made with
all to the meaning of the expression
The potato is a popular vegetable in
.Many people like baked potatoes
or fire.Imagine trying to carry a hot
in your hand.It would be difficult
Now we are getting close to the meaning of hot potato.
Some publicly disputed issues are highly emotional.
The issues must be treated carefully
be difficult and painful if an elected official
has to deal with them.As difficult and painful
One such hot potato is taxes.
Calling for higher taxes can mean defeat for
some very popular government programs could be cut.
And that also can make a politician very unpopular.
So the questions must be dealt with carefully
the same way you would handle any other hot potato.
Another expression is not so hot.If you ask someone
she may answer "not so hot.
"What she means is she does not feel well.
Not so hot also is a way of saying that you do not
really like something.You may tell a friend that
the new play you saw last night is not so hot.
That means you did not consider it a success.
who thinks he can do anything.At least he wants to
try.He is very sure he can succeed.But often
he fails.The expression was born in the military
A hot shot was a soldier who fired without
Hot is a word that is often used to talk about anger.
A person who becomes angry easily is called a hothead.
An angry person's neck often becomes red.
We say he is hot under the collar.You could
say that your friend is no hothead.But he
got hot under the collar when someone took his radio.
The hot line was a direct communications link between
the leaders of the Soviet Union and the United States.
accidental war between the two competitors during
the period known as the Cold War.The American president
and the Soviet leader were able to communicate
directly and immediately on the hot line.This helped
prevent any conflict during an international crisis.