“My boss asked me if I was happy working at the company and then became upset when I said, “mostly.” We talked about it for more than an hour…it was a real can of worms!”
If you heard someone say the words above, what would you think the idiom “can of worms” means?
Just like with other idioms, it is (sometimes!) helpful to try and think about the phrase in literal terms.
What does an actual can of worms make you think of (besides being super gross!)? What feeling does it give you?
Is a can of worms nice and pleasant?
No!
Therefore, you might be able to guess that the idiom “a can of worms” is similar: It refers to a situation that is unpleasant or difficult to deal with.
Try and use “can of worms” this week and let me know how it goes!
Teacher Amanda 