The phrase “opening a can of worms” means creating new problems while trying to solve one. It may have originated from bait shops selling live worms to anglers. It is similar to Pandora’s box, where opening it released plagues upon the world. While opening a can of worms can be cathartic, it can also lead to dire consequences and expose scandals much bigger than the original problem.
Metaphorically speaking, opening a can of worms is inadvertently creating numerous new problems while trying to solve one. Experts disagree on the origin of the phrase, but it is generally believed to be a Canadian or American metaphor coined in the 1950s. Bait shops routinely sold cans of worms and other popular live bait to anglers, who often found how easy it was to open and how difficult it was to close. Once the worms discovered an opportunity to escape, it became nearly impossible to contain them.
Some experts say the metaphor is a modern extension of Pandora’s box. In the original story, a mortal was warned not to open a box belonging to Pandora. When curiosity got the better of this mortal, he opened the box and inadvertently released numerous plagues upon the world. According to legend, the only thing left in Pandora’s Box was a creature called Hope. In this same sense, opening a can of worms is to unleash a myriad of often irrevocable problems or complications. As long as the “can” remained sealed, there would be no harm.
It’s rarely a good thing to open a can of worms, even though the damage control process could prove cathartic. For example, an accountant seeking answers to a tax problem might discover evidence of financial malfeasance on the part of his client. The revelation of that one secret could set off a chain of events with even more dire consequences. Once the accountant decided to open the jar, however inadvertently, the worms themselves triggered a whole new set of problems. By exposing the truth to the light, however, the situation could now be handled honestly.
Sometimes the decision to open a can of worms doesn’t work out so well. History is filled with events where the investigation of one problem led to the exposure of dozens of other problems lurking beneath the surface. Investigations, such as the Washington Post’s investigation into a break-in at the Watergate office complex in 1972, often expose scandals much bigger than the original story. There is often no elegant or efficient way to reseal the ugly truth once someone decides to reveal it.
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