An awkward or delicate problem with which nobody wants to be associated.
A child's game in which players pass a ball or other item between them, with the object of avoiding being left holding the item when time expires.
Ongoing unproductive wrangling or posturing between political factions, resulting in failure to deal with an issue or problem in a decisive or appropriate way.
A contentious political issue or problem that is often debated or discussed, but that remains unresolved; an issue or problem which is avoided by authorities and handed off to others.