How do you use "Open a can of worms" in a sentence?

Bringing up his ex at dinner really opened a can of worms. If we audit that department, we're going to open a whole can of worms. I don't want to open a can of worms, but we need to talk about the budget.

Open a can of worms

American Slang Term American ★★★★☆ Common informal

Practica con tarjetas, cuestionarios y audio en WordLoci →

Significado: To create a complicated situation or bring up a problem that leads to many more problems.

惹出一堆麻烦；引发一连串的问题。

Crear una situación complicada o sacar un problema que desencadena muchos más problemas.

複雑な状況を引き起こすこと。ある問題を持ち出したせいで次々と問題が生じること。

복잡한 상황을 만들거나, 한 가지 문제를 꺼내서 줄줄이 더 많은 문제를 일으키는 것.

Used as a warning that pursuing a particular topic or action will create more problems than it solves. Once the can is open, the worms are everywhere and impossible to put back. Common in legal, political, and workplace discussions about risky decisions.

用作警告，表示追究某个话题或采取某个行动会制造出比解决的更多的问题。一旦罐子打开，虫子到处都是，不可能再装回去。在法律、政治和职场讨论中常用于谈论有风险的决定。

Se usa como advertencia de que abordar un tema o una acción concreta creará más problemas de los que resuelve. Una vez abierto el bote, los gusanos están por todas partes y es imposible meterlos de vuelta. Habitual en contextos legales, políticos y laborales al hablar de decisiones arriesgadas.

ある話題を追求したり行動を起こしたりすると、解決するより多くの問題を生み出すという警告として使われる。一度缶を開けたら虫が至る所に散らばり、元に戻すのは不可能。リスクのある決定に関する法律、政治、職場の議論でよく使われる。

특정 주제나 행동을 추구하면 해결하는 것보다 더 많은 문제가 생길 거라는 경고로 사용된다. 한번 캔을 열면 벌레가 사방에 퍼져서 다시 넣을 수 없다. 위험한 결정에 대한 법률, 정치, 직장 논의에서 흔히 쓰인다.

Ejemplos

Bringing up his ex at dinner really opened a can of worms.
晚饭时提起他前女友的事，真是捅了马蜂窝。
Sacar el tema de su ex en la cena abrió la caja de Pandora.
夕食の席で彼の元カノの話を持ち出したら、収拾がつかなくなった。
저녁 식사 자리에서 그의 전 여자친구 이야기를 꺼냈더니 수습이 안 됐어.
If we audit that department, we're going to open a whole can of worms.
如果我们审计那个部门，肯定会捅出一大堆问题来。
Si auditamos ese departamento, vamos a abrir la caja de los truenos.
あの部署を監査したら、やぶ蛇になるぞ。
그 부서를 감사하면 골치 아픈 일이 줄줄이 터질 거야.
I don't want to open a can of worms, but we need to talk about the budget.
我不想惹麻烦，但我们必须谈谈预算的问题。
No quiero abrir la caja de Pandora, pero tenemos que hablar del presupuesto.
面倒なことになるのは嫌だけど、予算の話をしないといけない。
복잡한 일을 만들고 싶진 않은데, 예산 이야기를 해야 해.

Pronunciación

Guía de uso

Contexto: warnings, politics, workplace

Tono: cautionary, reluctant

✓ Correcto

That's going to open a can of worms.
那会惹出一堆麻烦来的。
Eso va a abrir la caja de Pandora.
それはやぶ蛇になるぞ。
그러면 골치 아픈 일이 생길 거야.
I don't want to open that can of worms.
我不想打开那个潘多拉的盒子。
No quiero abrir esa caja de los truenos.
その問題には触れたくないな。
그 문제는 건드리고 싶지 않아.

✗ Incorrecto

Using it to avoid important but difficult conversations is avoidant — sometimes the can needs to be opened
用这个表达来回避重要但困难的对话是逃避行为——有时候该面对的还是得面对
Usarlo para evitar conversaciones importantes pero difíciles es evasivo — a veces hay que abrir la caja.
重要だが難しい会話を避けるために使うのは逃げ——時には缶を開けなければならないこともある
중요하지만 어려운 대화를 피하는 데 사용하는 것은 회피적인 태도다 — 때로는 캔을 열어야 할 때도 있다

Origen e historia

From fishing — literal cans of worms used as bait. Once opened, the worms squirm everywhere and are hard to contain. The figurative use became popular in American English in the 1950s, particularly in political and legal discussions.

Contexto cultural

Era: 1950s-present

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Más de este tema

The American Dream ★★★★★ The ideal that every person has the opportunity to achiev... Pull yourself up by your bootstraps ★★★★★ To improve your situation through your own effort, withou... Hit it out of the park ★★★★★ To do something exceptionally well; to greatly exceed exp... Bite the bullet ★★★★★ To endure a painful or difficult situation with courage; ... Cold turkey ★★★★★ To abruptly stop a habit or addiction without gradually r... Not my cup of tea ★★★★★ Not something one enjoys or is interested in; not to one'...