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

Don't open that can of worms. That question opened a whole can of worms. It's a real can of worms.

A can of worms

Slang Term AmericanBritishAustralian ★★★★☆ Common Casual

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Meaning: A situation that creates many problems; a complicated mess.

制造很多问题的情况；复杂的麻烦。

Una situación que crea muchos problemas; un lío complicado.

多くの問題を引き起こす状況；複雑な混乱。

많은 문제를 일으키는 상황; 복잡한 난제.

'Opening a can of worms' means starting something that creates many complicated problems—worms escaping in all directions, impossible to control. Often preceded by 'open'—to start investigating something problematic.

'Opening a can of worms'（打开一罐虫子）意味着开始某事会产生很多复杂的问题——虫子四处逃窜，无法控制。通常与'open'搭配——开始调查某个有问题的事情。

'Abrir una lata de gusanos' significa iniciar algo que crea muchos problemas complicados—gusanos escapando en todas direcciones, imposibles de controlar. A menudo precedido por 'open'—empezar a investigar algo problemático.

「can of worms」（ワームの缶）を開けるとは、多くの複雑な問題を引き起こすこと—ワームがあらゆる方向に逃げ出し、制御不能になる。しばしば「open」が先行し、問題のあることを調べ始めることを意味します。

'Opening a can of worms'는 사방으로 벌레가 도망치듯 통제할 수 없는 복잡한 문제들을 야기하는 일을 시작하는 것을 뜻한다. 주로 'open'과 함께 쓰여 문제가 될 만한 것을 조사하기 시작하는 것을 의미한다.

Examples

Don't open that can of worms.
别打开那个潘多拉盒子
No abras esa caja de Pandora
その問題には触れないで
그 문제는 건드리지 마.
That question opened a whole can of worms.
那个问题引出了一大堆麻烦
Esa pregunta abrió la caja de Pandora
その質問で問題が山積みになった
그 질문이 온갖 문제를 다 끄집어냈어.
It's a real can of worms.
这真是一团糟
Es un verdadero lío
本当に厄介な問題だ
정말 골치 아픈 문제야.

Pronunciation

/ə kæn əv wɜːmz/

Usage Guide

Context: problems, complications, investigations

Tone: warning, concerned

✓ Do Say

Can of worms
一堆麻烦事
Un avispero
やっかいな問題
골칫거리
Open a can of worms
打开了潘多拉的盒子
Abrir un avispero
厄介な問題を引き起こす
골칫거리를 만들다
That's a can of worms
那是个大麻烦
Eso es un avispero
それはやぶ蛇になる
그건 큰 골칫거리야

Common Mistakes

Usually preceded by 'open' as a verb

Origin & History

American expression from the 1950s, referencing bait containers. Opening a can of fishing worms releases a writhing, hard-to-control mess—the perfect metaphor for complicated problems.

Etymology: From fishing: opening a container of bait worms

First recorded: 1950s American

Cultural Context

Era: 1950s onwards

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Pop culture: American expression, global usage

Regional notes: American origin, understood globally.

Variations

A can of wormsOpen a can of worms