Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

rabbit-hole

noun

/ˈræb.ɪt hoʊl/

Definition

A rabbit-hole is a metaphor for an idea, concept, or situation that leads one into a more complex or difficult circumstance, often associated with a search for information that becomes overwhelming.

Examples

After watching one video, I fell down a rabbit-hole of conspiracy theories.
He started researching a simple question and ended up in a rabbit-hole of unrelated articles.

Meaning

The term often refers to getting lost in an extensive journey of exploration, especially online, where one starts with a simple topic and ends up dealing with many tangents.