drop something like a hot potato

drop (someone or something) like a hot potato

To abandon someone or something suddenly and completely, sometimes to avoid potential problems. I haven't seen Cynthia in weeks because she dropped me like a hot potato once she started hanging out with the cool kids. We dropped our renovation plans like a hot potato after finding out how much the job would cost. We dropped our contract with that company like a hot potato once we heard they do animal testing.

See also: drop, hot, like, potato

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

drop something like a hot potato

or

drop something like a hot brick

If you drop something or someone like a hot potato or drop them like a hot brick, you get rid of them as quickly as possible because they are difficult to deal with, or because you do not want them any more. He was celebrated in the media one minute and dropped like a hot potato the next. He panicked and dropped his lover like a hot brick.

See also: drop, hot, like, potato, something

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012