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can of worms

A complex, troublesome situation arising when a decision or action produces considerable subsequent problems.
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If I give her a promotion which she doesn't deserve, it will open up a whole can of worms with the other employees.

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Submitted on September 01, 2009

Additional definitions for 'can of worms':

can of wormsA troublesome situation; an issue whose resolution is difficult or contentious, but not necessarily complex.
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Translation

Find a translation for the can of worms phrase in other languages:

Dose Würmer

lata de gusanos

boîte de Pandore

doboznyi kukac

lattina di vermi

blik wormen

可以蠕虫

一罐蠕蟲

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Nearby phrases

Some more phrases from our dictionary similar to can of worms

before you can say knifebeggars can't be choosersbite off more than one can chewcan't put the words back into one&…can I buy you a drinkAppendix:Snowclones/you can't spell XYZ…can't helpcan't make ends meetcan do withcan I come inBite Off More Than You Can ChewCan't Hit the Side of a Barncan't get enoughcan't seem

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