can of worms

noun phrase

: pandora's box

afraid of what we would find if we opened up the can of worms that is the CIA

—Richard Snider

Examples of can of worms in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The film follows a money collector (Lachman) for a private investigator hired to track down 10 million dollars stolen in a dodgy real estate deal, opening a complex can of worms. —Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 18 Feb. 2025

Taming frizz on your natural texture is one thing, but keeping straightened hair sleek is a whole other can of worms. —Bella Cacciatore, Glamour, 12 Feb. 2025

Regrettably, this opens an entirely new can of worms. —Lance Eliot, Forbes, 17 Dec. 2024

The league may have opened a humongous can of worms on Sunday. —Steve Svekis, Sun Sentinel, 17 Nov. 2024

Would adding that bit have opened up a can of worms? —Angela Watercutter, WIRED, 13 Oct. 2024

This opens up a whole can of worms about whether, quote-unquote, encrypted messaging and social apps should be regulated or considered responsible for the content that's posted on them. —Lauren Goode, WIRED, 5 Sep. 2024

That’s a can of worms for future parasite research. —Ashley Stimpson, science.org, 7 May 2024

The guilty verdict in Donald Trump's hush money trial has opened a huge can of worms regarding what this could mean for him legally. —Julia Reinstein, ABC News, 1 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1962, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for can of worms

• gymnosperms
• isotherms
• reaffirms
• affirms
• confirms
• cutworms
• earthworms
• silkworms
• tapeworms
• wireworms
• angiosperms
• echinoderms