third rail
📖 Definitions
noun
1. A topic believed to be too controversial or charged to discuss.
2. A rail that runs near a railroad track to supply high-voltage power to an electric train.
💬 Usage Examples
“For more than 20 years borders have been the third rail of Australian politics, and on Thursday -- Anthony Albanese -- unwittingly, he says -- tripped over it.” The Daily Telegraph (Australia); 2022. “The abortion issue was already a third rail of Canadian politics before the latest US developments.” Toronto Star (Canada); 2022. “Mr.
Macron took on the third rail of French politics -- reforming the country’s byzantine pension system.” The Wall Street Journal (New York); 2022. “German politicians are also openly considering nuclear energy, a third rail of German politics for decades.” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Pennsylvania); 2022. “Labour reform was the infamous third rail of Indian politics, to be touched by foolhardy politicians.” The Economic Times (New Delhi, India); 2020. “[Shinzo Abe] mused publicly about whether Japan should host US nuclear weapons, touching the third rail of Japanese politics.” The Australian (Canberra); 2022. “The fate of that [oligarchs’] wealth is the third rail of Russian politics.” The Christian Science Monitor (Boston); 2003. “[Rent control is] the third rail of Swedish politics.” The New York Times; 2019. “Gender equality, however, will remain the third rail of Saudi politics.” The American Prospect (Princeton, New Jersey); 2007. “And [Elizabeth Ames] said the NHS was a sacred cow. ‘It’s the third rail of UK politics.’” The Advertiser (Adelaide, Australia); 2019.
Meanwhile in Florida... “They call Disney the third rail of politics in Florida.” The Washington Post; 2022.