To open a can of worms means to do something that will uncover more problems and make things more complicated and unsolvable than they already were; to create an unpleasant or troubling situation. Subscribe to our YouTube channel! Multimedia Learning Guide to Improve English Fluency. It is rarely a good thing to open a can of worms, although the damage control process could prove to be cathartic. We call this situation "opening up a can of worms". My theory of "hook phrases", “I'd rather not open up that whole can of worms.”, How William Shakespeare Works Help in Learning Literary English Quickly and Easily, How the Benefits of Tutoring to Learn a Language Outweigh Those of the Classroom Environment. Never tell yourself that you "know" an English word or phrase. Infographic: How many words do you 'need'? Other words are sometimes substituted for can/ such as bucket or even barrel, without changing the meaning. The problem with language learning "levels". Sentence examples — When Sarah decided to look at her boyfriend's iPhone she opened a can of worms. You've opened up a whole new can of worms here I think. This idiom is used in many different ways. Subscribe to our new updates in your email. Definitions by the largest Idiom Dictionary. For the past few months, you haven't talked about it. You tell your husband: Don't mention anything about my parents. Can of worms is used on its own to refer to many problems. I don't want to open up that can of worms. Many variations are possible, such as “a whole new can of worms” to refer to a new set of problems. Want to see more videos from Idioms.Online? Now I have to hire a waterproofer and deal with mold!”, “I know Harry’s plan seems like a good idea but trust me, its a can of worms we don’t want to deal with right now.”, “David didn’t realize the can of worms he would open by returning home after so long.”. Cambridge Dictionary of American Idioms. This idiom alludes to opening a can of worms used as bait for fishing, which tends to reveal a tangled knot of wriggly worms. The phrase "a can of worms" is quite common and can be used in casual or formal situations. to get into something that is messy, has problems and is unwanted, something that is complicated and involves a lot of hassle (to do), To get into that discussion would mean to open a, To sell that house would mean that I would have to speak with my brother and I am not about to open that, No one wanted to be the part of that project, realising that it was a. For example, imagine that you and your sister have been arguing with each other over who should take care of your parents in their old age. Fishing stores sell cans of worms. Meaning: have a romantic relationship with someone, Example: Kate and Jack have been going steady with each other for the past few years now. It is a writing cliché but has got popularity is verbal communication also. : King says she isn't trying to open a can of worms, just bring the city up to date. This page contains one or more affiliate links. I just thought I’d mention that the most common way people use #10 is by saying some variation of: If you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours. American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms. Good list of idioms and Bethany potsed a good l list of examples. You say this because you know that you and your sister will get into a long, angry argument if you start talking about that topic. Many variations are possible, such as “a whole new can of worms” to refer to a new set of problems. Definition of open a can of worms in the Idioms Dictionary. By trying to help yourself catch a fish you have created a messy problem / situation. When you start trying to fix the problem, it causes many more problems. 3. Premature ejaculation is another can of worms entir See full affiliate disclosure. For the past few months, you haven't talked about it. If they carry the worms in a can (like in the picture above), when they open it a bunch of tangled worms will crawl out. This bait causes vibrations in the water similar to that of smaller fish, which in turn might fool larger fish into taking a bite. As well, adjectives might be added such as a can of legal worms. What does open a can of worms expression mean? Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2013. jQuery("#footnote_plugin_tooltip_1").tooltip({ tip: "#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_1", tipClass: "footnote_tooltip", effect: "fade", fadeOutSpeed: 100, predelay: 400, position: "top center", relative: true, offset: [10, 15] });,2Heacock, Paul. Telling the truth will open a can of worms, and cause huge embarrassment to certain establishments. 25+1 sentence examples: 1. 1Ammer, Christine. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 2010. jQuery("#footnote_plugin_tooltip_2").tooltip({ tip: "#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_2", tipClass: "footnote_tooltip", effect: "fade", fadeOutSpeed: 100, predelay: 400, position: "top center", relative: true, offset: [10, 15] });  English Idioms: 22 Idioms About Happiness or Being Happy. Read on. An accountant looking for answers to a tax problem could discover evidence of financial wrongdoing by his client, for example. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. As well, adjectives might be added such as a can of legal worms. This idiom is used in many different ways. 2. The origin of this phrase is from the 1950's found in Edwardsville Intelligencer, published in the United States. My father opened a real can of worms when he took over the ailing company and tried to get it doing business. So a fisherman might buy one and open … For example, imagine that you and your sister have been arguing with each other over who should take care of your parents in their old age. : I was told by one of his officials that delving into such matters would merely open a can of worms! Fishermen often attach a live worm to their fishing hooks as bait to catch a fish. open a can of worms phrase. We call this situation "opening up a can of worms". Why Memorize? “Refinishing the basement in my house opened up a can of worms. The 3 biggest improvements you can make to your English writing, The key to understanding natural spoken English, 5 steps to achieving your New Year's resolutions, 8 reasons why your English isn't improving, How your brain learns English (and how it doesn't). : It can be less risky to ignore suspicions than open a can of worms that might end in a disastrous confrontation. something that is complicated and involves a lot of hassle (to do) For example, ‘spinner-bait’ is made up of small pieces of metal that spin around as it’s reeled in. Besides worms, though, there are several kinds of bait that can be used. Some problems are so difficult that it's best not to even try to talk about them or solve them. Now you and your husband are … Can of worms is used on its own to refer to many problems. Now you and your husband are on your way to eat dinner with your sister's family. The exposure of that one secret could set off a chain of events with even more dire consequences. Anyways, back to the point. Other words are sometimes substituted for can/ such as bucket or even barrel, without changing the meaning.

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