4 English Expressions that have to do with Potatoes
4 Espressioni inglesi che coinvolgono le patate
![a speech bubble with a potato inside](https://ingleseliscio.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/potatotalk-1024x576.jpg)
While St. Patrick’s Day is technically a religious holiday, here in the USA it tends to be celebrated in a pretty secular way: with copious beer-drinking and eating foods that are classically Irish, such as corned beef and potatoes. Since I’ll never pass up an opportunity to honor the mighty potato, I decided to dedicate today’s blog post to this deliciously starchy root vegetable. Here are a few expressions to add to your vocabulary list…
1) Couch Potato
Refers to a person who spends a lot of time sitting or lying down, usually watching television. It implies laziness or a lack of physical activity.
![2 potatoes with googly eyes sitting on a couch being couch potatoes.](https://ingleseliscio.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/couchpotato.webp)
In the summer we’re pretty active, but in the winter we turn into couch potatoes.
In estate ci piace essere attivi, ma d’inverno facciamo i poltroni.
2) Small Potatoes
Describes something insignificant or unimportant, usually in comparison to something larger or more significant.
![A tiny man being crushed by a giant shoe.](https://ingleseliscio.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/smallpotatoes.webp)
Compared to the main problem, the issue of funding is just small potatoes.
Rispetto al problema principale, la questione dei finanziamenti è di minore importanza.
3) A Hot Potato
A controversial or sensitive issue that is difficult to handle or deal with, and is often passed around or avoided.
![Border fence between USA and Mexico.](https://ingleseliscio.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/immigration.webp)
The issue of immigration has always been a political hot potato.
L’immigrazione è da sempre un argomento spinoso in politica. In altre parole, spesso viene evitato nel dibattito politico.
4) To drop something like a hot potato
This phrase means to quickly and decisively abandon or disassociate oneself from something or someone, especially if it becomes difficult or problematic.
![2 politicians debate. The white politician looks angry and the black one looks like he's trying to calm him down.](https://ingleseliscio.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/racist-politician.webp)
As soon as he made that racist comment at the debate, his supporters dropped him like a hot potato.
Appena ha fatto quel commento razzista durante il dibattito, i suoi sostenitori lo hanno abbandonato all’istante.
Here are a few colloquial ways to say potato
Ecco alcuni modi (molto) informali per dire Patate
- spuds
- taters
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