APAD:Opening a can of worms

来源: 移花接木 于 2025-10-23 02:20:06 [] [博客] [旧帖] [给我悄悄话] 阅读数 : (13746 bytes)

Opening a can of worms

"Can of worms"  refers to a problem that, when addressed, leads to many more related problems. 

To open a can of worms refers to create a complex, confusing, or troublesome situation by taking a specific action. For example, questioning a policy might "open a can of worms" with unintended consequences.  

If you open a can of worms, you do something that will cause a lot of problems and is, on balance, probably going to cause more trouble than it's worth.

 The idiom comes from the idea that when a can of fishing worms is opened, the worms are difficult to control and wriggle everywhere. 

  • Fixing a small computer bug that then reveals five new software problems. 
  • A conversation about a sensitive topic like politics or a controversial decision, which could lead to arguments. 
  • Giving a promotion that might seem to solve one problem but causes a backlash and more complaints from other employees. 

所有跟帖： 

• A true story: hubby’s BIL likes fishing. One morning -最西边的岛上- ♀ 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 10/23/2025 postreply 03:51:46

• SIL opened fridge 2 get milk for breakfast, but found a -最西边的岛上- ♀ 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 10/23/2025 postreply 03:53:26

• full fridge of live fishing worms who ran out from a can :-) -最西边的岛上- ♀ 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 10/23/2025 postreply 03:56:47

• Holy, so frightening -移花接木- ♂ 给 移花接木 发送悄悄话 移花接木 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 10/23/2025 postreply 11:09:43

• Popular programming adage : "If It works, don't touch It" ~~ -最西边的岛上- ♀ 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 10/23/2025 postreply 07:38:29

• Opening a Pandora‘s box? -暖冬cool夏- ♀ 给 暖冬cool夏 发送悄悄话 暖冬cool夏 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 10/23/2025 postreply 09:14:28

• Where all the disasters came from -移花接木- ♂ 给 移花接木 发送悄悄话 移花接木 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 10/23/2025 postreply 11:10:41

• Blessed are the worm-can openers, for they usher in progress -7grizzly- ♂ 给 7grizzly 发送悄悄话 7grizzly 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 10/23/2025 postreply 10:33:34

• sometimes :-) -7grizzly- ♂ 给 7grizzly 发送悄悄话 7grizzly 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 10/23/2025 postreply 10:34:05

• How about Genie in the bottle? ;-) -最西边的岛上- ♀ 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 10/23/2025 postreply 10:37:26

• Think positively, they say. -7grizzly- ♂ 给 7grizzly 发送悄悄话 7grizzly 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 10/23/2025 postreply 11:01:47

• Never tried worm can, could worms stay alive in sealed cans? -移花接木- ♂ 给 移花接木 发送悄悄话 移花接木 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 10/23/2025 postreply 11:12:03

• Not in sealed, need small holes on cover 2 keep worms alive -最西边的岛上- ♀ 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 10/23/2025 postreply 11:43:56

• IC -移花接木- ♂ 给 移花接木 发送悄悄话 移花接木 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 10/23/2025 postreply 11:47:51

• 潘多拉盒开启，最后留下的是希望！Hope still exists when all disasters come.：） -妖妖灵- ♀ 给 妖妖灵 发送悄悄话 妖妖灵 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 10/23/2025 postreply 14:22:42

• now Pandora is name of charm, favored by youngs -移花接木- ♂ 给 移花接木 发送悄悄话 移花接木 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 10/23/2025 postreply 15:26:42

• Still remember the Pandora’s charm bracelet you purchased:) -妖妖灵- ♀ 给 妖妖灵 发送悄悄话 妖妖灵 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 10/23/2025 postreply 15:34:51

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