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worms

   Also found in: Dictionary/thesaurus, Medical, Acronyms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.04 sec.
*can of worms
Fig. a very difficult issue or set of problems; an array of difficulties. (*Typically: be ~; Open ~.) This political scandal is a real can of worms. Let's not open that can of worms!
See also: can

a can of worms  (informal)
a situation which causes a lot of trouble for you when you start to deal with it Quite what we do with all the waste generated by this industry is another can of worms. Once you start making concessions to individual members of staff, you really open up a can of worms. (= cause a lot of trouble for yourself)
See also: can

open (up) a can of worms
to create a situation that will cause trouble or be unpleasant The investigation into how these expensive trips were paid for certainly opened a can of worms.
Usage notes: sometimes used without open up: I don't think her plan will work - it seems like kind of a can of worms to me.
See also: can, open


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