a can of worms

phraseC1Not compared — the two pools are counted one word at a time, so a phrase has no score

A can of worms is a problem that spills into endless new problems once opened. Open a can of worms, a real can of worms, that is a can of worms.

It nearly always takes open, and the advice is nearly always not to. The picture is of a bait tin whose contents cannot be got back in.

Definitions of a can of worms

1phrasea can of wormsA problem that spills into endless new problems once opened.C1
“Asking about the accounts opened a can of worms nobody wanted.”

a can of worms is a phrase.

Also accepted in games: can of worms

phraseC1Not compared — the two pools are counted one word at a time, so a phrase has no score

A can of worms is a problem that spills into endless new problems once opened. Open a can of worms, a real can of worms, that is a can of worms.

It nearly always takes open, and the advice is nearly always not to. The picture is of a bait tin whose contents cannot be got back in.

1phrasea can of wormsA problem that spills into endless new problems once opened.C1
“Asking about the accounts opened a can of worms nobody wanted.”

a can of worms is a phrase.

Also accepted in games: can of worms