Definitions

can of worms

NOUN

complicated situation

Synonyms

WEAK

Gordian knot Pandora's box complex problem complexity complication difficult situation difficulty dog's breakfast entanglement hard nut to crack headache hornet's nest hot water mare's nest mess predicament problem quagmire quandary snafu snake pit snarl trouble troublesome problem unpredictable situation

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Creech, however, reports the money on the return as displayed on the tax form: “Otherwise, we risk opening a whole can of worms.”

From MarketWatch

A can of worms—its opening both entices and repels.

From The Wall Street Journal

“It opens up a whole new can of worms.”

From The Wall Street Journal

What remains to be seen now is whether a wider can of worms has been opened.

From BBC

“China is reopening the same can of worms.”

From The Wall Street Journal