can of worms

American  

noun

1. Informal. a source of many unpredictable or unexpected problems.

   Buying a company we know nothing about would be opening up a whole new can of worms.

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can of worms Idioms  

1. A complex unexpected problem or unsolvable dilemma, as in Tackling the budget cuts is sure to open a can of worms. This expression alludes to a container of bait used for fishing, which when opened reveals an inextricable tangle of worms. [1920s]

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Etymology

Origin of can of worms

First recorded in 1965–70

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

can of worms

His every motive feels ulterior, and his inevitable simmering romance with Lowen resembles a can of worms that could pop open at any moment.

From Salon ● Oct. 9, 2026

“AI is just a fundamentally different can of worms than crypto. Most people don’t interact with crypto on a regular basis, but AI is meeting people at their doorsteps,” Morse told MarketWatch.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 8, 2026

“It opens up this can of worms of interpretations that are sometimes not based on reality,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 1, 2026

Or a can of worms best left unopened?

From BBC ● Jun. 23, 2026

I hoped you wouldn’t ask about this, because it opens up a can of worms.

From "From the Desk of Zoe Washington" by Janae Marks

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