be a can of worms

To have the potential to be or become very complicated, problematic, or detrimental, especially in a way that was unexpected or difficult to anticipate. Getting involved in the border conflict would be a can of worms that our country is simply not prepared to open right now. You can try reformatting your computer, but I'm warning you, it's a whole can of worms. Just be prepared to have to work on it for a few days, at least. Can we hold off on revising the schedule? That's a whole can of worms I don't have time for this week.

See also: can, of, Worms

bookworm

A person who spends a large or excessive amount of time reading or studying. Emma's a real bookworm. You're more likely to find her curled up with a book on a Friday night than out at a party. College is about more than just getting good grades, you know. Come on, quit being such a bookworm and come out with us tonight! My daughter was a bookworm at a young age. I know Babysitter's Club books aren't Moby Dick, but they are chapter books, and she was reading them to herself in second grade!

can of worms

A situation, action, or activity that has the potential to be or become very complicated, problematic, or detrimental, especially in a way that was unexpected or difficult to anticipate. Getting involved in the minor border conflict has become a can of worms for the country, with no end to the military engagement in sight. You can try reformatting your computer, but once you open that can of worms, you'll probably be working on it for days. Can we hold off on revising the schedule? That's a whole can of worms I don't have time for this week.

See also: can, of, Worms

cheat the worms

To avoid death, especially after having a serious illness. Refers to the worms often found near a decaying body. A: "I heard that Ellen cheated the worms! Is that true? Last I saw her, she was so sick." B: "Oh, yeah! She's doing great now!" I hope I can cheat the worms and make a full recovery—but I feel so sick right now. If the patient's got blood poisoning, do you really think he'll be able to cheat the worms?

earworm

An especially catchy song or portion of music that repeats involuntarily in one's head. The legendary pop star's newest song is a true earworm. It gets stuck in your head the very first time you hear it! For some reason, it's always been this one part of the song that's an earworm for me. I'll sing it to myself dozens of times, even though I can never remember how the rest of the song goes. A: "Would you stop humming that earworm?" B: "I'm sorry, it's just so catchy!"

food for worms

A dead person. You better drive more carefully, unless you want to be food for worms! No, I don't want to go rock climbing! I don't want to become food for worms! Once Mom and Dad find out you're failing three classes, you're gonna be food for worms, my friend.

have one for the worms

To have an alcoholic drink. The phrase refers to the belief that alcohol kills worms in the stomach. Let's all have one for the worms—I'm buying! A: "No, I won't have another beer, thanks." B: "Ah, come on, have one for the worms!" We're gonna stop by the bar and have one for the worms—wanna come?

have worms

To have parasitic worms in the body, as of a person or animal. You've been having so many stomach issues, and now you have a rash too? My goodness, I hope you don't have worms! I'm happy to report that the medication worked—Rover no longer has worms. Sounds like the kitten you found might have worms. Don't worry, the vet will examine him thoroughly.

like opening (up) a can of worms

Likely to have complicated, wide-reaching, or unforeseeable results or side effects, especially problematic or negative ones. I worry that trying to alter the existing network setup could be like opening up a can of worms that we're not anticipating. I want to address the issue with the boss, but it's always like opening a can of worms bringing up stuff like that with him.

open (up) a can of worms

To initiate, instigate, or reveal a situation that is or is likely to become very complicated or problematic or that will have a negative outcome. I worry that trying to tweak the existing system could open up a can of worms that we're not anticipating. The candidate opened a can of worms when he made those inflammatory comments. Now the entire election has been dominated by the topic.

worm

A contemptible person. He's such a little worm, agreeing with whatever the boss says if he thinks it will get him ahead. My application got held up by some worm with delusions of grandeur, who insisted on questioning every single detail I submitted.

worm (one's) way in

To get oneself into a place or a situation, with a touch of trickery, artistry, or cunning. I plan on worming my way into the big meeting by schmoozing with my boss for a while.

worm (one's) way into (something or some place)

1. To crawl, wriggle, or squeeze into some tight or confined thing or space. The dog likes to worm her way into bed with me and my wife at night. I can worm my way into these pants, but there's no way I'll be able to zip them up.

2. To get oneself into some desirable place or a situation in a sly, tricky, or cunning manner. He wormed his way into the big meeting by hanging around the boss before it was due to begin. I can't believe we managed to worm our way into the nightclub without having our IDs checked.

worm (one's) way out (of something)

1. To crawl, wriggle, or squeeze out of some tight or confined thing or space. The dog disappeared beneath the porch, then wormed her way out of it again with a dead rat in her mouth. I need to lose some weight. I managed to get my old jeans on, but it took me nearly 10 minutes to worm my way out again!

2. To disentangle oneself from some situation, duty, or responsibility, especially through sly, devious, or cunning means. You've wormed your way out of doing the dishes for the last time! Sally always finds some way to worm her way out of any trouble she gets herself into. I told you that the whole company has to be there to do the inventory count—you're not worming your way out this time!

worm (something) out of (one)

To obtain information from one, usually by nefarious or deceptive means. Oh, she's good—she'll worm a confession out of you before you even know what’s happening. See if you can worm the password out of Bill—he seems like an easy target.

worm information

To get someone (sometimes with a touch of trickery) to reveal details that likely would not have been volunteered. Usually followed by "out of," as in "worm information out of." Bill was keeping quiet about his break-up, but I knew I could worm information out of him if I tried hard enough. Kira worms information about upcoming tests out of her teachers by complimenting them and straightening up their classrooms.

worm into (something or some place)

1. To crawl, wriggle, or squeeze into some tight or confined thing or space. The dog likes to worm into bed with me and my wife at night. I can worm into the pants, but there's no way I'll be able to zip them up.

2. To get oneself into some place or a situation, with a touch of trickery, artistry, or cunning. He wormed into the big meeting by hanging around the boss before it was due to begin. I can't believe we managed to worm into the nightclub without having our IDs checked.

worm out of (something or some place)

1. To crawl, wriggle, or squeeze out of some tight or confined thing or space. The jeans were so tight that I had to worm out of them. The spy wormed out of the ventilation shaft and lowered himself into the ambassador's office.

2. To disentangle oneself from some situation, duty, or responsibility, especially through sly, devious, or cunning means. Not so fast, you've wormed out of doing the dishes for the last time! Sally always finds some way to worm out of trouble. I told you that the whole company has to be there to do the inventory count—you're not worming out of it again this time!

worms in blood

slang Spaghetti in tomato-based sauce, especially marinara or Bolognese. A: "What's your favorite food to eat, Billy?" B: "Worms in blood!" C: "He means spaghetti."

*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, of, Worms

worm

(one's way) in (to something)

1. Fig. to wiggle into something or some place. (Fig. on the image of a worm working its way into a very small space.) The little cat wormed her way into the box and got stuck. The cat wormed into the opening.

2. . Fig. to manipulate one's way into participation in something. She tried to worm her way into the play, but the director refused. You can't have a part, so don't try to worm in.

worm

(one's way) out (of something)

1. Fig. to wiggle out of something or some place. (Fig. on the image of a worm working its way out of a very small space.) Somehow she managed to worm her way out of the handcuffs. Frank wormed out of the opening. He struggled and struggled and wormed out.

2. . Fig. to manipulate oneself out of a job or responsibility. Don't try to worm yourself out of this affair. It is your fault! You can't worm out of this.

can of worms

A complex unexpected problem or unsolvable dilemma, as in Tackling the budget cuts is sure to open a can of worms. This expression alludes to a container of bait used for fishing, which when opened reveals an inextricable tangle of worms. [1920s]

See also: can, of, Worms

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

a can of worms

COMMON A can of worms is a situation or subject that is very complicated, difficult or unpleasant to deal with or discuss. Now we have uncovered a can of worms in which there has not only been shameful abuse of power, but a failure of moral authority of the worst kind. Note: You can also use the expression to open a can of worms, meaning to start dealing with or discussing something so complicated, difficult or unpleasant that it would be better not to deal with or discuss it at all. Whenever a company connects its network to the Internet, it opens a can of worms in security terms. Many people worry that by uncovering the cause of their unhappiness they might be opening a can of worms that they can't then deal with.

See also: can, of, Worms

open up a can of worms

discover or bring to light a complicated matter likely to prove awkward or embarrassing. informal

1998 New Scientist UN officials readily accept that they have opened a can of worms, and their guidelines will only have an effect, they say, if governments act on them.

food for worms

a dead person.

a can of ˈworms

(informal) if you open up a can of worms, you start doing something that will cause a lot of problems and be very difficult: I think if we start asking questions we’ll open up a whole new can of worms. Perhaps we should just accept the situation.

See also: can, of, Worms

can of worms

n. an intertwined set of problems; an array of difficulties. (Often with open.) When you brought that up, you opened a whole new can of worms.

See also: can, of, Worms

worm

n. a repellent person, usually a male. Gad, you are a worm, Tom.

worms

n. noodles; spaghetti. Let’s have worms tonight.

worms in blood

n. spaghetti in tomato sauce. I’m getting tired of worms in blood every Wednesday.

can of worms

A complex or difficult problem.

See also: can, of, Worms

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

can of worms, it's a/like opening a

Introducing a complicated problem or unsolvable dilemma. The metaphor alludes to the live bait of fishermen. In a jar or other container, they form an inextricable tangle, wriggling and entwining themselves with one another. The term is American in origin, dating from the mid-twentieth century.

food for worms

Dead and buried. This expression dates back to the thirteenth century, or perhaps even earlier. “Ne schalt tu beon wurmes fode?” wrote the unknown author of the Middle English Ancren Riwle about 1220. Shakespeare picked it up in Henry IV, Part 1 (5.4), when the mortally wounded Hotspur says of himself, “No, Percy, thou art dust, and food for—” and dies, so Prince Henry completes it, “For worms, brave Percy.”