I’ve gathered a delightful idioms that all share a common ingredient—potatoes. Each idiom offers a unique twist on everyday expressions, using the humble spud to paint pictures of situations ranging from the mundane to the complex.
Whether it’s something minor being described as “small potatoes” or a tricky situation dubbed a “hot potato,” these phrases add flavor to our language. I’ll explain their meanings and give you examples of how they can be used in daily conversations, providing insights that might even surprise you about how versatile potato-related idioms can be.
list of 20 idioms for potato
- Small potatoes
- Hot potato
- Couch potato
- Drop like a hot potato
- Mashed potatoes
- Half-baked potato
- Big potato
- Potato head
- Potato’s eye
- Like apples and potatoes
- Baked potato
- Spud in the box
- Hot under the collar potato
- Pass the potato
- French fries
- Seed potato
- Peel the potato
- Earth apple
- Potato famine
- Potato-rich
Small potatoes
Meaning: Something of little importance or value.
Example: Compared to the urgent issues we’re facing, these minor complaints are small potatoes.
Hot potato
Meaning: A controversial issue or situation that is awkward or unpleasant to deal with.
Example: The debate about political funding is a real hot potato in this election.
Couch potato
Meaning: A person who spends a lot of time sitting or lying down, usually watching television.
Example: Ever since he got that new TV, Mark has become a real couch potato.
Drop like a hot potato
Meaning: To abandon something or someone quickly.
Example: As soon as the scandal hit, his allies dropped him like a hot potato.
Mashed potatoes
Meaning: Describes something that is in disarray or mixed up.
Example: My plans for the weekend are all mashed potatoes now that the weather forecast has changed.
Half-baked potato
Meaning: An idea or plan that has not been thought through properly.
Example: They rushed the product launch and ended up with a half-baked potato that frustrated users.
Big potato
Meaning: An important or influential person.
Example: In the world of finance, he’s considered a big potato.
Potato head
Meaning: A foolish or stupid person.
Example: He forgot to lock the front door again, what a potato head!
Potato’s eye
Meaning: The point from which a new potato plant can grow.
Example: Make sure not to cut off the potato’s eye when you’re peeling it if you plan to plant it.
Like apples and potatoes
Meaning: Used to describe two things that are fundamentally different and not comparable.
Example: Comparing graphic design to accounting is like apples and potatoes; they’re just not the same.
Baked potato
Meaning: Something done, settled, or finalized.
Example: Once we sign the contract, this deal is a baked potato.
Spud in the box
Meaning: A surprising or unexpected situation or event.
Example: His sudden resignation was a real spud in the box for the company.
Hot under the collar potato
Meaning: Getting angry or agitated easily over trivial matters.
Example: He got all hot under the collar potato over a simple joke.
Pass the potato
Meaning: To shift responsibility or blame to someone else.
Example: When the project failed, everyone started to pass the potato.
French fries
Meaning: To cut something into long, thin strips.
Example: We need to french fries these documents into manageable tasks for the team.
Seed potato
Meaning: A resource or person that is expected to produce a lot of new growth or ideas.
Example: We consider her the seed potato of our new research department.
Peel the potato
Meaning: To reveal or expose the true nature of something.
Example: It’s time to peel the potato and see what his real intentions are.
Earth apple
Meaning: An old-fashioned term for a potato, highlighting its growth in the ground.
Example: Back in the day, we used to harvest earth apples from my grandfather’s field.
Potato famine
Meaning: A situation where there is a severe lack of resources or ideas.
Example: After the lead writer left, the show went into a potato famine of good scripts.
Potato-rich
Meaning: Having an abundance of something, often ironically referring to something less desirable.
Example: This old house is potato-rich with problems to fix.
Idioms for potato and tomato
Two Tomatoes, One Potato
Meaning: Working together despite differences to achieve a common goal.
Example: The project team was like two tomatoes and one potato, different but efficient together.
What got me interested in writing about potato idioms?
I’ve always been fascinated by how everyday items like potatoes can be woven into our language in such creative ways. Exploring these idioms allows me to uncover the rich tapestry of language and culture that surrounds something as simple as a potato.
Can I use these potato idioms in formal writing?
While some idioms, like “small potatoes” or “hot potato,” might be suitable for more casual or creative parts of formal writing, it’s best to use them sparingly. They’re perfect for adding a touch of personality and relatability to your speech or writing, especially in more informal contexts. you can also read more broader for more deeper understanding like vegetables idioms.
