ENGLISH
REFERENCE

can of worms

idiom
Meaning

A complex, troublesome situation arising when a decision or action produces considerable subsequent problems.

Examples
SIMPLE

Don't ask about his divorce — it's a can of worms.

CONTEXTUAL

The manager tried to fix the scheduling issue, but it opened a whole can of worms.

COMPLEX

What seemed a minor audit discrepancy soon became a can of worms, revealing years of mismanagement and hidden debts.

Anchors to
Related idioms2entries
  1. 01

    worm food

    One or more corpses, especially in a state of decay; remains.

  2. 02

    worm turns

    Circumstances change so that a previously disadvantaged party gains the advantage, or vice-versa.

Last updated April 17, 2026