tar baby
The term "tar baby" originated from the Uncle Remus stories and has both idiomatic and offensive connotations. It is important to use it cautiously due to its potential to cause offense.
Definition
C1Idiomatic
(chiefly US, informal)A complex problem that becomes worse with attempts to solve it.
Example
- The new policy turned into a tar baby for the administration, with each solution creating more issues.
- Dealing with the outdated software system has become a tar baby for the IT department.
C2Offensive
(derogatory, ethnic slur)A highly offensive term used to refer to a black person, especially a child.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "tar baby":