To create trouble, to cause a situation for unpleasant events

Etymology:

  • If someone is getting ready for fishing then he opens a can of worms on a river bank, it is perfectly normal. On the contrary, if you open a can full of worms in a crowded place, you might cause a lot of trouble around the place. In this idiom, the word “worms” refers to a very delicate issue at hand.
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The auditor opened a can of worms when he saw the financial reports.

Submitted on February 25, 2019

Translation

Find a translation for the Open a Can of Worms phrase in other languages:

abre una lata de gusanos

aperire a can vermibus exspiravit

bir kutu solucan aç

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