political football
noun
: an issue that politicians argue about and try to use for their advantage
This issue is too important to be treated as a political football.
Examples of political football in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Away from Adolescence being used as a political football, the show, produced by Brad Pitt’s Plan B, Warp Films and Matriarch Productions, has in the past few weeks been redefining the notion of a breakout hit.
—
Max Goldbart, Deadline, 16 May 2025
Is there a way to avoid this becoming just another political football and really re-emphasize security best practices?
—Obed Manuel, NPR, 27 Mar. 2025
The firm's deal to buy two Panama Canal ports from Hong Kong's CK Hutchison has become a political football among the governments of the U.S., Panama and China.
—Emily Peck, Axios, 31 Mar. 2025
Others’ loans, however, were stuck in limbo and became a political football as the Biden administration’s plans for student loan forgiveness hit a wall of legal challenges.
—Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 26 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for political football
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Max Goldbart, Deadline, 16 May 2025
Is there a way to avoid this becoming just another political football and really re-emphasize security best practices?
—Obed Manuel, NPR, 27 Mar. 2025
The firm's deal to buy two Panama Canal ports from Hong Kong's CK Hutchison has become a political football among the governments of the U.S., Panama and China.
—Emily Peck, Axios, 31 Mar. 2025
Others’ loans, however, were stuck in limbo and became a political football as the Biden administration’s plans for student loan forgiveness hit a wall of legal challenges.
—Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 26 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for political football
Cite this Entry
“Political football.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/political%20football. Accessed 8 Jun. 2025.
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