Tarbaby

Origin

tar + baby, from African American folklore, popularized by the tale of Br'er Rabbit in the stories (1881) of , originally from Cherokee folklore (a tar baby story was published in the Cherokee Advocate, 1845).

Full definition of tarbaby

Noun

1. A difficult or "sticky" situation, especially one where peoples' attempts to make it better only make it worse
2. (pejorative, ethnic slur) A black person

Usage notes

The term is easily construed in the offensive, pejorative sense, and thus it is prudent to avoid it, instead referring to a “sticky situation”.