noun: Alternative form of tar baby (“difficult, "sticky" situation”) [(chiefly US) A difficult, abstract problem that worsens as one attempts to handle it; a "sticky" situation, especially one where attempts to make it better only make it worse.]
noun: Alternative form of tar baby (“(ethnic slur) black person”) [(chiefly US) A difficult, abstract problem that worsens as one attempts to handle it; a "sticky" situation, especially one where attempts to make it better only make it worse.]