The phrase
"tar baby" is a figurative term used to describe a situation or problem that becomes more difficult to handle or escape from the more you get involved with it. It originated from a character in an old African-American folk tale called Br'er Rabbit, where the
tar baby was a doll made of tar intended to trap and trick Br'er Rabbit. So, referring to something as a
"tar baby" means it's a sticky situation that can cause more problems the more you engage with it.
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