Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

can-of-worms

idiom

/kæn əv wɜrmz/

Definition

A situation that leads to many complicated problems that are difficult to deal with.

Examples

Bringing up the issue of budget cuts opened a can of worms, leading to heated debates among the staff.
She realized that her question about the project timeline was a can of worms, resulting in a flurry of unexpected concerns.

Meaning

The phrase ‘can of worms’ refers to a scenario that, once opened or addressed, reveals numerous issues or complexities, making the situation far more complicated than initially anticipated.