rear its ugly head

Idioms  

1. Appear. This phrase is used only of something undesirable or unpleasant, as in The interview went very well until a question about his academic record reared its ugly head. This expression was first recorded in slightly different form in Anthony Trollope's Barchester Towers (1857): “Rebellion had already reared her hideous head.”

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

rear its ugly head

Investors need to be on their guard against the pumpkin-spice latte effect, which is about to rear its ugly head.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 13, 2026

We’re prepared to win again, anytime we see that threat rear its ugly head.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026

"We are in contact with the Jewish community and local authorities," Saar said on X. "Antisemitism must never be allowed to rear its ugly head."

From Barron's ● Mar. 12, 2026

With a few dozen cases popping up here and there each year, as soon as vaccination rates dip, the illness rears can rear its ugly head once more—just as it is right now.

From Slate ● Mar. 18, 2025

But suppose Sylvia—oh, dash it, no need to spoil one's brief rest by allowing a beastly doubt like that to rear its ugly head!

From The Strange Case of Mortimer Fenley by Louis Tracy