Down the rabbit hole

Posted by Bruce Kahl 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.

Yup!!

"....when suddenly a White Rabbit with pink eyes ran close by her.

There was nothing so very remarkable in that; nor did Alice think it so very much out of the way to hear the Rabbit say to itself, `Oh dear! Oh dear! I shall be late!' (when she thought it over afterwards, it occurred to her that she ought to have wondered at this, but at the time it all seemed quite natural); but when the Rabbit actually took a watch out of its waistcoat-pocket, and looked at it, and then hurried on, Alice started to her feet, for it flashed across her mind that she had never before seen a rabbit with either a waistcoat-pocket, or a watch to take out of it, and burning with curiosity, she ran across the field after it, and fortunately was just in time to see it pop down a large rabbit-hole under the hedge."