can of worms

can of Worms

C c

Transcription

- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- [kan uhv, ov wurmz]
- /kæn ʌv, ɒv wɜrmz/

- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- [kan uhv, ov wurmz]
- /kæn ʌv, ɒv wɜrmz/

Definitions of can of worms words

noun can of worms a complicated problem 3
noun can of worms a complex, usually unpleasant problem 3
noun can of worms Informal. a source of many unpredictable or unexpected problems: Buying a company we know nothing about would be opening up a whole new can of worms. 1
noun can of worms sth controversial, problematic 1
noun can of worms (Idiomatic) A complex, troublesome situation arising when a decision or action produces considerable subsequent problems. 0
noun can of worms (Idiomatic) A troublesome situation; an issue whose resolution is difficult or contentious, but not necessarily complex. 0

See all 6 definitions of can of worms

Information block about the term

Origin of can of worms

First appearance:

before 1965

One of the 2% newest English words

First recorded in 1965-70

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Can of worms

noun

adjective

verb

adverb

pronoun

preposition

conjunction

determiner

exclamation

Full grammatical hierarchy of Can of worms

can of worms popularity

This term is known only to a narrow circle of people with rare knowledge. Only 6% of English native speakers know the meaning of this word.

According to our data most of word are more popular. This word is almost not used. It has a much more popular synonym.

can of worms usage trend in Literature

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Synonyms for can of worms

noun can of worms

complexity — Complexity is the state of having many different parts connected or related to each other in a complicated way.
complication — A complication is a problem or difficulty that makes a situation harder to deal with.
difficulty — the fact or condition of being difficult.
headache — a pain located in the head, as over the eyes, at the temples, or at the base of the skull.
hot water — trouble; a predicament: His skipping classes will get him into real hot water when exam time comes.

All 19 Synonyms of can of worms