The exact origin of the phrase is not completely known, but general consensus traces it back to the 1950s in the united states and literal cans of. Fisherman used to buy sealed metal cans of earthworms. A can of worms simply means, as has been pointed out, a tangled tale of complications that tend to wriggle when you look at. The origin of this phrase is from the 1950s found in edwardsville intelligencer, published in the united states. Can of worms definition, a source of many unpredictable or unexpected problems. To open a can of worms is to cause a problem that leads to an irrevocable dilemma, that is unsolvable or complex. To open up a can of worms is a slang phrase that indicates that there will now be a lot of trouble for starting something that will not be easily resolved. No surprise, then, that the phrase was inspired by real live creepy. Take advantage of interactive presentations, an app, creative lesson plans, a variety of worksheets, and handson activities to reinforce the concept. It is a writing cliche but has got popularity is verbal.
For instance, the english idiom over the moon means extremely happy and most english speakers would almost instinctively recognise and understand this, yet somebody in the process of learning the language may find this. Whether to feed an unexpected guest to dinner by opening a second can of dog food or not is to open a whole can of worms. Can of worms an avon camelot book skip to main content. Historians who have pored over old etiquette books have noticed that. To initiate, instigate, or reveal a situation that is or is likely to become very complicated or problematic or that will have a negative outcome.
Three new books on the early republic explore the critical, if contested, role equality has played in shaping american political culture. If you describe someone as a bookworm, you mean they are very fond of reading. Worms are the latest as well as, of course, perhaps the oldest. How did the term opening up a can of worms come about. Book worm synonyms, book worm pronunciation, book worm translation, english dictionary definition of book worm. Can of worms definition of can of worms by the free. For the uninitiated, the expression to open a can of worms means to attempt to. Can of worms definition and synonyms of can of worms in the. Book worm definition of book worm by the free dictionary. Over the past few years, both worms and viruses have become major problems, mainly due to widespread use of the internet. Trehearne also recommends using picture books to help you and your child explore the meaning of idioms together.
If someone gets a promotion that might not be deserved, it could open up a whole can of worms with the other employees. The exact origin of the phrase is not completely known, but general consensus traces it back to the 1950s in the united states and literal cans of worms. Discussing with my wife whether my girlfriend should be allowed to spend the night or not is to open a can of worms. Now we have uncovered a can of worms in which there has not only been shameful abuse of power, but a failure of moral authority of the worst kind. What are some sentences with to open a can of worms. Experts disagree on the origin of the phrase, but it is generally believed to be a canadian or american metaphor coined sometime in the 1950s. I just so happened to be up at that hourim kidding, i recorded it because it sounded interesting. Pandoras box wikipedia gaia foundation the story of the opening of pandoras box. You can make them any size you like and use any combination of colors. Not to forget i cant keep a straight face but hey, thats my style of talking. There was, once upon a time, a disney channel original movie called can of worms playing at 3am. To describe a situation as a can of worms means that it is complicated, unpleasant and difficult to deal with. Greenan a can of worms, an essay by david sedaris included in his 2004 collection dress your family in corduroy and denim.
A can of worms definition and meaning collins english dictionary. Decodable books decodable books and phonics lessons direct instruction for soundsymbol relationships. Can of worms definition in the cambridge english dictionary. I was wondering if you knew the origin of the idiom open a can of worms. Picture books about worms score a books total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book. In a nutshell, you can support grammar instruction with a collection focusing on idioms. The oxford dictionary defines idiom as a group of words whose meaning is different from the meanings of the individual words. The governments plans for compulsory data retention has opened a can of worms. Literally speaking, opening a can of worms, as most fishermen can attest, can also mean more. Definition and synonyms of a can of worms from the online english dictionary from macmillan education this is the british english definition of a can of worms.
An accountant looking for answers to a tax problem could discover evidence of financial wrongdoing by his client, for example. An idiom can be described as a phrase that has a meaning which differs from what the actual words would suggest. Mended can of worms the meaning and origin of this phrase. For example, this line from daily record of glasgow in 2006, africa is a huge can of worms and we can no longer stick our heads in the sand, which seems to be combining two cliches into one and not making sense in either direction. Corruption is a serious problem, but nobody has yet been willing to open up that can of worms.
Common a can of worms is a situation or subject that is very complicated, difficult or unpleasant to deal with or discuss. Learning english the english we speak can of worms. Does the expression can of worms have anything to do with. Idiom to open a can of worms is to create situation that involves a complicated set of problems that you discover when you start dealing with it. Often, the larvae of various types of insects including beetles, moths and cockroaches, which may bore or chew through books seeking food, are responsible.
Definition of a can of worms in the idioms dictionary. A can of worms simply means, as has been pointed out, a tangled tale of complications that tend to wriggle when you look at them. Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer no kindle device required. Bookworm definition and meaning collins english dictionary. If you are wondering whats this all about, youd better brace yourself with some idioms to go further. Your chance to have a onetoone lesson with bestselling language expert paul noble, try a free audio sample of his brand new mandarin. Bookworm definition, a person devoted to reading or studying. I worry that trying to tweak the existing system could open up a can of worms that were not anticipating. Ive heard that it might be associated with pandoras box. View american english definition of a can of worms change your default dictionary to american english. For example, this line from daily record of glasgow in 2006, africa is a huge can of worms and we can no longer stick our heads in the sand, which seems to be combining two cliches into one and not making sense in. Can of worms is an idiom referring to a slew of subsequent problems and dilemmas arising from a decision or action. Your chance to have a onetoone lesson with bestselling language expert paul noble, try a free audio sample of his brand new. Can of worms band, a french deaththrash metal band.
A to open a metaphorical can of worms is to examine some complicated state of affairs, the investigation of which is likely to cause trouble or scandal and which you would much prefer was left alone. If you say a situation or an issue is a can of worms, you think that getting involved in it could lead to problems. Wonderful worms linda glasers classic creatures glaser, linda, krupinski, loretta on. It is rarely a good thing to open a can of worms, although the damage control process could prove to be cathartic. If you say that someone is opening a can of worms, you are warning them that they are planning to do or talk about something which is much more complicated. Can of worms meaning in the cambridge english dictionary. Sounds and their corresponding symbols are taught in phonics lessons that are systematically organized, use direct and explicit instruction, provide blending and segmenting practice, and provide word manipulation practice.
Literally speaking, opening a can of worms, as most fishermen can attest, can also mean more trouble than you bargained for. Bait stores routinely sold cans of worms and other popular live baits to fishermen, who often discovered how easy it was to. Metaphorically speaking, to open a can of worms means to inadvertently create numerous new problems while trying to solve one. Some also believe that can of worms is a modern version of the idiom, pandoras box. While the exact origin and first usage isnt clear, various dictionaries and. Can of worms definition and meaning collins english. The idiom has become a journalistic and writing cliche over the years. They would bring the worms to the fishing site, but if they knocked the can over, they had a whole new problem of catching their bait.
These are great easy to read patterns and fun quilts to make. To get the free app, enter your mobile phone number. Buying a company we know nothing about would be opening up a whole new can of worms. Dont open up a can of worms phrase meaning and origin. Can of worms can of worms is an idiom referring to a slew of subsequent problems and dilemnas arising from a decision or action. Malware with selfreplicating capability has been an issue in the world of computing for several years, dating back to the first selfreplicating code created by ken thompson in 1984. Definition of open a can of worms in the idioms dictionary. Can of worms definition of can of worms by merriamwebster. Bookworm is a general name for any insect that is said to bore through books. The damage to books that is commonly attributed to bookworms is, in truth, not caused by any species of worm. Getting involved in the minor border conflict has become a can of worms for the country, with no end to the military engagement in sight.
In this handy guide, the authors of dead snails leave no trails demystify the world of worm wrangling, with everything you need to know to build your own worm bin, make your garden wormfriendly, pamper your soil, and much much more. The discovery of the transfer of funds turned out to be a real can of worms. Open a can of worms definition is to create a complicated situation in which doing something to correct a problem leads to many more problems. Can of worms an avon camelot book mackel, kathy on. All of the quilts in this book are extremely nice patterns.
579 1206 525 1058 586 247 977 1426 547 506 474 678 593 1558 734 708 927 408 1285 705 722 217 572 1293 990 560 852 378 846 933 729 1483 462 1438 342 579 724 1281