rear its (ugly) head
(redirected from rearing its ugly head)rear its (ugly) head
Of a difficult, unpleasant problem, to present itself and force people to deal with it. Fundamentalist extremism has been rearing its head all around the world over the last couple years. I can't believe tax day is already rearing its ugly head again.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
rear its ugly head
Fig. [for something unpleasant] to appear or become obvious after lying hidden. Jealousy reared its ugly head and destroyed their marriage. The question of money always rears its ugly head in matters of business.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
rear its ugly head
Appear. This phrase is used only of something undesirable or unpleasant, as in The interview went very well until a question about his academic record reared its ugly head . This expression was first recorded in slightly different form in Anthony Trollope's Barchester Towers (1857): "Rebellion had already reared her hideous head."
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.
rear its head
orraise its head
COMMON If something unpleasant rears its head or raises its head, it starts to appear or be active, often when it had stopped or been hidden for a period. Now the same ugly forces of racial hatred are beginning to rear their heads again. The familiar pattern of violence is raising its head once again in the region. Note: People often say that something unpleasant rears or raises its ugly head. We will not allow hooliganism to rear its ugly head again.
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012
rear its (ugly) head
(of an unpleasant matter) emerge; present itself.Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
rear/raise its (ugly) ˈhead
(used of something considered unpleasant) appear again after being hidden or forgotten: Political corruption has reared its ugly head again. ♢ Famine has raised its head again in many parts of the world.Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017