open Pandora's box

open (a) Pandora's box

To begin or introduce something that leads to many other problems. A reference to the story from Greek mythology in which Pandora opens a box containing all the possible things that can affect humanity negatively. It seems like we've opened Pandora's box with this topic today. We've been getting hundreds of messages from listeners from around the country who have been affected by it. Trying to fix the bug opened a Pandora's box of other issues with the computer.
See also: box, open
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

open Pandora's box

Fig. to uncover a lot of unsuspected problems. When I asked Jane about her problems, I didn't know I had opened Pandora's box. You should be cautious with people who are upset. You don't want to open Pandora's box.
See also: box, open
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • open (a) Pandora's box
  • open a Pandora's box
  • Pandora
  • Pandora's box
  • a Pandora's box
  • sow dragon's teeth
  • Procrustean solution
  • cleanse the Augean stables of (something)
  • stable
  • cleanse
References in periodicals archive
'If the Punjab governor is made as the patron-in-chief of any authority then it would open Pandora's box as the government will have to make certain amendments in the rules of the business of both the Punjab Assembly and the government of Punjab for legalising the role of the governor,' said PML-N's MPA Samiullah Khan.
Bilall Kasami, leader of one of BESA's two wings, says that if Prime Minister Zaev believes that this is not a time to open Pandora's Box, then they need to remind him that it is the bypass policy that makes open issues bitter.
If we calculate the losses suffered by the country owing to the issuance of statutory regulatory orders (SROs) by the previous PMLN's government, the nation will be surprised to know that it may open Pandora's box of biggest ever financial scam of the country.
not to open Pandora's Box appeared first on Cyprus Mail .
"Their go-to is my motherhood and you open the can of worms, you open Pandora's Box and you don't know what might pop out of it."
IT took just 1.27 million out of 33.12 voting million or 65 million total population, to open Pandora's box. The next day turmoil in all directions and around the world.
Instead, activists looked high and low for a single hard case that would open Pandora's Box, and found a family-owned pizzeria whose owners said they would not cater a same-sex marriage if asked -- not that anyone had.
The fact remains that losing one member of the family would ultimately open Pandora's box.'
Paul said: "We have called her Pandora because really we want to open Pandora's Box and find out where she has come from and what has happened to her." He said Trading Standards were investigating the case.
EU Budget Commissioner Jacek Dominik warned on Monday that British Prime Minister David Cameron will "open Pandora's box" if he doesn't make an extra payment to the EU budget by 1 December, according to EU policy and news site EurActiv.com.
When I ask residents about why they have not collected pertinent, albeit sensitive, psychosocial information, they typically respond, "I forgot to ask;" "I didn't feel comfortable going there;" or "I didn't want to open Pandora's box!" This hesitancy to ask about the patients' thoughts and feelings results from a fear of getting entangled in a conversation from which the trainee cannot easily escape.
"In case BDI open Pandora's Box with their amendments, SDSM may also put forward their own.