can of worms

noun
1.
Informal. a source of many unpredictable or unexpected problems:
Buying a company we know nothing about would be opening up a whole new can of worms.
Origin
1965-70
Slang definitions & phrases for can of worms

can of worms

noun phrase

A complex and troublesome matter; a Pandora's box: Leave it alone, don't kick the crawly old can of worms/ the current bag of worms (1950s+)

Related Terms

open up a can of worms


Idioms and Phrases with can of worms

can of worms

A complex unexpected problem or unsolvable dilemma, as in Tackling the budget cuts is sure to open a can of worms. This expression alludes to a container of bait used for fishing, which when opened reveals an inextricable tangle of worms. [ 1920s ]