Hot potato 棘手的问题“烫手山芋”
Play audio file 内容简介 Helen 被提名为学校家长会的财务总监，这可是一个重要的职位，可是Helen 还没上任就已经觉得压力大，睡不了觉了。这可怎么办？Neil 提出了一个建议，在事情成为 “烫手山芋”之前做出决定。
（关于台词的备注: 请注意这不是广播节目的逐字稿件。本文稿可能没有体现录制、编辑过程中对节目做出的改变。）
Neil
Hello and welcome to Authentic Real English. I'm Neil.
Helen
大家好，欢迎收听 BBC 英语教学的《》。我是 Helen。
Neil
Oh what’s the matter, Helen? You look really tired.
Helen
Is it that bad?
Neil:
You've got very dark shadows under your eyes.
Helen
是吗？我的黑眼圈你都看到了。唉呀，有人想交给我一份工作，可是我是真的做不了。
Neil
What is it?
Helen
就是做学校家长协会的财务总监，但是你是知道，我看到数字就头大！I am hopeless with numbers.
Neil
Sounds like it could turn into a hot potato for you.
Helen
现在都什么时候了，你还让我吃热土豆。我可吃不下，急都急死了。
Neil
I'm not talking about food. I am talking about this job. I can see it’s going to be a problem for you.
Helen
I’m thinking the same.
Neil
You need to think about it very carefully before it becomes a hot potato. When something becomes a ‘hot potato’, it becomes a problem and difficult to handle.
Helen
I see. 你说的 hot potato 是中文中常说的“烫手山芋”，也就是非常棘手的问题。的确这个形容非常贴切。如果我做了财务总监，就像是手中拿着一块烫手的山芋，会把事情搞得一团糟。
Neil
Exactly, you’ve got it. A hot potato is a phrase we use to refer to difficult or tricky situations, or even people. Here are a few examples:
Examples
The shortage of housing supply is fast becoming a hot potato for the council.
The pay rise issue is a hot potato for management; I don't know how they are going to sort this one out between the staff, the union and the shareholders.
Neil
Helen, my word of advice is…
Helen
Please, I’m listening.
Neil
Tell the school you can’t do it. Drop it before it becomes a real hot potato for you.
Helen
You are right. That’s what I will do. Thanks
Neil
You’re welcome.