complex problem or complicated situation It opened up a large can of worms when the company decided to talk about the union contract.
open a can of worms
(See can of worms)
open a new can of worms
Idiom(s): open a (new) can of worms
Theme: DIFFICULTY
to uncover a set of problems; to create unnecessary complications. (Informal. Can of worms means "mess.") • Now you are opening a can of worms! • How about cleaning up this mess before you open up a new can of worms?
Opening a can of worms
If you open a can of worms, you do something that will cause a lot of problems and is, on balance, probably going to cause more trouble than it's worth.
can of worms|can|worm|worms
n., slang, informal 1. A complex problem, or complicated situation. Let's not get into big city politics that's a different can of worms. 2. A very restless, jittery person. Joe can't sit still for a minute he is a can of worms.
An Worms idiom dictionary is a great resource for writers, students, and anyone looking to expand their vocabulary. It contains a list of words with similar meanings with Worms, allowing users to choose the best word for their specific context.
Dictionary of similar words, Different wording, Synonyms, Idioms for Idiom, Proverb Worms