Pandora's box

American  

noun

1. a source of extensive but unforeseen troubles or problems.

   The senate investigation turned out to be a Pandora's box for the administration.

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Pandora's box Cultural  

1. In classical mythology, a box that Zeus gave to Pandora, the first woman, with strict instructions that she not open it. Pandora's curiosity soon got the better of her, and she opened the box. All the evils and miseries of the world flew out to afflict mankind.

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Pandora's box Idioms  

1. A source of unforeseen trouble, as in Revising the tax code is opening a Pandora's box. This equivalent for the modern can of worms comes from the Greek legend in which Pandora, entrusted with a box containing the world's ills, is overcome by curiosity and opens it, thereby releasing them. [Late 1500s]

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Discover More

To “open a Pandora's box” is to create an uncontrollable situation that will cause great grief.

Etymology

Origin of Pandora's box

First recorded in 1570–80

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Pandora's box

The Dodgers had opened Pandora’s box, and out would fly a lockout, a pall of smoke over their games, and a plague of locusts.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 20, 2026

Samsung and SK Hynix’s mind-boggling earnings and bonuses have opened something of a Pandora’s box anyway.

From Barron's ● Jun. 11, 2026

But its long tail also shows that once the Pandora’s box of conspiracy has been opened, it has the power to destroy lives.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 12, 2026

"That night opened a Pandora's box in our relationship," Jane told the court.

From BBC ● Jun. 5, 2025

At other times spraying, while reasonably effective against the target insect, has let loose a whole Pandora’s box of destructive pests that had never previously been abundant enough to cause trouble.

From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson