Posted by ESC on December 01, 2006
In Reply to: Don't open up a can of worms posted by sharika on December 01, 2006
: don't open up a can of worms
If anyone has a better example, jump in.
Don't mention a certain subject. It could lead to a conversation topic that is going to be unpleasant. "He asked about her ex-husband. That opened a can of worms." Or it could refer to a course of action. "We decided to remodel the kitchen. That opened up a can of worms and we wound up remodeling the whole house."
From the archives; http://www.phrases.org.uk/bulletin_board/5/messages/250.html
It is about the same meaning as "opening Pandora's box" (See http://www.phrases.org.uk/bulletin_board/6/messages/167.html )