a can of worms 〈口〉 1. 复杂而难解决的问题(或处境)，棘手的事；一团糟 When made chairman of that investigating committee, he was being handed a can of worms. 选他担任调查委员会主席，正是叫他接手一个烂摊子。 open a can of worms 引起一场大乱 2. 极度紧张不安的人 Joe can't sit still for a minute — he is a can of worms. 乔连一分钟也坐不住，他是个狂躁型的人。