To create trouble, to cause a situation for unpleasant events
Etymology:
- If someone is getting ready for fishing then he opens a can of worms on a river bank, it is perfectly normal. On the contrary, if you open a can full of worms in a crowded place, you might cause a lot of trouble around the place. In this idiom, the word “worms” refers to a very delicate issue at hand.
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The auditor opened a can of worms when he saw the financial reports.
Submitted on February 25, 2019
Translation
Find a translation for the Open a Can of Worms phrase in other languages:
abre una lata de gusanos
aperire a can vermibus exspiravit
bir kutu solucan aç
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"Open a Can of Worms." Phrases.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 22 Dec. 2024. <https://www.phrases.com/phrase/open-a-can-of-worms_44911>.
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