open Pandora's box

open Pandora's box
open Pandora's box
Fig. to uncover a lot of unsuspected problems. •

When I asked Jane about her problems, I didn't know I had opened Pandora's box.

You should be cautious with people who are upset. You don't want to open Pandora's box.

* * *
See: PANDORA'S BOX.

Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • open Pandora's box — See: PANDORA S BOX …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • open Pandora's box — open (a) Pandora s box to start something that causes many new and unexpected problems. They worry that any decision they make about testing will open a Pandora s box. What kind of Pandora s box do we open if we decide not arrest people who have… …   New idioms dictionary

  • open\ Pandora's\ box — See: Pandora s box …   Словарь американских идиом

  • Pandora's box — noun open Pandora s box to cause a lot of problems that did not exist before …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • open a Pandora's box — open (a) Pandora s box to start something that causes many new and unexpected problems. They worry that any decision they make about testing will open a Pandora s box. What kind of Pandora s box do we open if we decide not arrest people who have… …   New idioms dictionary

  • pandora's box — If you open a Pandora s box, something you do causes all sorts of trouble that you hadn t anticipated …   The small dictionary of idiomes

  • Pandora's Box —    The expression Pandora s box may be a good warning to apply to a situation in which it is wise to keep matters under control and under cover, lest a worse situation develop. Or, as it s said on the street, Don t open up a can of worms.    In… …   Dictionary of eponyms

  • Pandora's box — Pan|do|ra s box [pænˌdo:rəz ˈbɔks US ˈba:ks] n [Date: 1500 1600; Origin: Pandora woman in an ancient Greek story who opened a box and let all evils out into the world] open a Pandora s box to do or start something that will cause a lot of other… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • Pandora's box — n. a process that once activated will generate many unmanageable problems. Etymology: in Gk Mythol. the box from which the ills of mankind were released, Hope alone remaining: f. Gk Pandora all gifted (as PAN , doron gift) * * * Pandora s box f37 …   Useful english dictionary

  • Pandora's box — /pænˌdɔrəz ˈbɒks / (say pan.dawruhz boks) noun 1. Greek Legend a box or jar containing all human ills, given by Zeus to Pandora who was forbidden to open it, but did so out of curiosity, thus releasing its contents. See Pandora1. 2. any source of …  

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