ENGLISH
REFERENCE

open Pandora's box

idiom
Meaning

To perform an action that causes problems to appear which did not exist beforehand, or were not known about prior.


Examples
SIMPLE

Asking about his past really opened Pandora's box.

CONTEXTUAL

By questioning the company's accounting methods, the auditor accidentally opened Pandora's box and uncovered years of hidden debt.

COMPLEX

The government's decision to release the classified documents opened Pandora's box, triggering a series of political scandals that the administration could no longer contain.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    box clever

    To act wisely.

  2. 02

    box oneself into a corner

    To create a predicament or problem for oneself; to do something that leaves one with no good alternatives or solutions.

  3. 03

    box seat

    A favorable vantage point.

  4. 04

    box someone's ears

    To slap someone on the side of the head, usually as an informal punishment.

  5. 05

    box the compass

    To make a complete reversal in stance or opinion.

  6. 06

    come from a Cracker Jack box

    To obtain or retrieve something that is useless, cheap or fake.

  7. 07

    get one's shine box

    Used as an insult.

  8. 08

    idiot box

    Television.

Last updated July 12, 2026