C1idiompoliticsIELTS-friendly
a political football
USUK
an issue that politicians argue about to win support, without solving it
Critical. Often 'become' or 'be used as' a political football.
In context
Healthcare has become a political football, and patients are the ones who suffer.
Teachers don't want school funding to be turned into a political football.
More idioms about politics
- a double standarda rule applied more strictly to one group than to another
- a grey areaa situation where the rules are unclear, so nobody is sure what is allowed
- a hidden agendaa secret reason or plan behind what someone says or does
- a hot potatoa difficult issue that people disagree about and nobody wants to deal with
- a lame ducka politician or government with little real power, often near the end of a term in office