rear/raise its ugly head

phrase

—used to say that something bad appears and causes trouble usually after not occurring for a period of time

Inflation threatened to rear its ugly head.

I knew that the leak we patched would eventually raise its ugly head.

Examples of rear/raise its ugly head in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Iranian nuclear challenge, meanwhile, could again rear its ugly head. — Ray Takeyh, Foreign Affairs, 4 Dec. 2025

The reason for doing so is that eventually, ultimately, the chances of someone suffering or claiming to suffer harm, partially or substantially due to an AI-to-AI transfer, will rear its ugly head. — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025

Depending on the job market, a no in-law clause may negatively impact their ability to work, an issue that could rear its ugly head in a divorce. — Lisa Zeiderman, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2025

No one knows whether injury will once again rear its ugly head. — Tony Blengino, Forbes.com, 20 May 2025

Aaron Turpen / New Atlas But eventually reality has to rear its ugly head and the party has to end. — New Atlas, 30 Apr. 2025

Stress can rear its ugly head when showing up as procrastination, overeating, or withdrawing from both social events and work colleagues. — Jack Kelly, Forbes.com, 30 Apr. 2025

Taxpayers should be very worried that this horrible idea will rear its ugly head again. — John Franklin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Apr. 2025