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Difference between Not too hot and Too hot to handle

not too hot—(coll.)

1. not very good or satisfactory:

  • A program denouncing the evils of capitalist society is matched by one showing that things under socialism are not too hot either.

2. (also: not so hot) feeling not so well:

  • I woke up today feeling not too hot. My throat is sore and I think I have a bit of a fever.

Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase bit hot, a—(coll.) somewhat unreasonable:

  • To dismiss the lad just because he forgot to post a letter is a bit hot.

too hot to handle —(coll., of stolen property, etc.) too dangerous to deal with:

  • Many stolen works of art have been recovered recently, which suggests that thieves are finding them too hot to handle.