open a can of worms

idiom

: to create a complicated situation in which doing something to correct a problem leads to many more problems
Our boss is reluctant to change the policy now because she doesn't want to open a can of worms.

Examples of open a can of worms in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Connecting to databases often open a can of worms. Frederick Daso, Forbes, 3 Sep. 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'open a can of worms.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Dictionary Entries Near open a can of worms

Cite this Entry

“Open a can of worms.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/open%20a%20can%20of%20worms. Accessed 26 Apr. 2024.

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