It's awkward to deal with boiling saucepan, vacuous assistant left on ring (3,6)
I believe the answer is:
hot potato
'it's awkward to deal' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.
'with boiling saucepan vacuous assistant left on ring' is the wordplay.
'with' says to put letters next to each other.
'boiling' becomes 'hot' (similar in meaning).
'saucepan' becomes 'pot' (I've seen this in another clue).
'vacuous assistant left on ring' becomes 'ato' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should believe this answer much more).
'hot' next to 'pot' is 'hotpot'.
'hotpot'+'ato'='HOT POTATO'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for hot potato that I've seen before include "Topical, dangerous, issue" , "Hard-to-handle situation, like fiery spud" , "Troublesome situation concerning thermal spud" , "An awkward subject" , "Troublesome situation for spicy spud" .)