Down the rabbit hole

Posted by R. Berg on June 19, 2001

In Reply to: Down the rabbit hole posted by Bob on June 19, 2001

: : Recently, someone sent me an e-mail and used the expression "I suppose I've got to see what there is down that rabbit hole." What he *seemed* to be getting at was that he realized he might be digging himself into a philosophical or emotional trap, but that he wanted to go ahead anyway. So, what I'm wondering is, is there any general meaning to "down the rabbit hole"? Thanks. - Patty

: I would assume (and it is an assumption) that he's referring to Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, which begins with curious Alice following the White Rabbit down the rabbit hole.

Going down the rabbit hole led Alice into a strange, dreamlike world where things didn't make sense. (Very dreamlike. At the end, she woke up.) Your correspondent may have been suggesting that satisfying his curiosity might produce bizarre or paradoxical experiences.

• Down the rabbit hole ESC 06/19/01
  • Down the rabbit hole R. Berg 06/20/01