raise its (ugly) head

raise its (ugly) head

Of a difficult, unpleasant problem, to present itself and force people to deal with it. Fundamentalist extremism has been raising its head all around the world over the last couple years. I can't believe tax day is already raising its ugly head again.
See also: head, raise
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • rear its (ugly) head
  • rear its head
  • rear its ugly head
  • rear/raise its head
  • come to a bad end
  • come to a bad/sticky end
  • learn (something) the hard way
  • learn the hard way
  • get (something) over with
  • get it over with