PANDORA'S BOX Definition & Meaning

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Pandora's box

noun

a source of extensive but unforeseen troubles or problems.
The senate investigation turned out to be a Pandora's box for the administration.

Pandora's box

In classical mythology, a box that Zeus gave to Pandora, the first woman, with strict instructions that she not open it. Pandora's curiosity soon got the better of her, and she opened the box. All the evils and miseries of the world flew out to afflict mankind.

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To “open a Pandora's box” is to create an uncontrollable situation that will cause great grief.

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of Pandora's box¹

First recorded in 1570–80

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Idioms and Phrases

A source of unforeseen trouble, as in Revising the tax code is opening a Pandora's box. This equivalent for the modern can of worms comes from the Greek legend in which Pandora, entrusted with a box containing the world's ills, is overcome by curiosity and opens it, thereby releasing them. [Late 1500s]

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

"That night opened a Pandora's box in our relationship," Jane told the court.

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Conservatives need to look more carefully into the Pandora’s box that they’re opening.

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Schumer viewed a government shutdown as a Pandora's box, unleashing chaos with no guarantee that the federal government would ever be set right again.

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"This Court could not order the removal of votes in four counties, while leaving votes from similarly situated voters in all other counties untouched," she said, arguing that it "should not open that Pandora's box."

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And it seems theoretically possible to do it, but experts are now warning it could be opening Pandora’s box.

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