Pandora's box
Unleashed endless troubles
Pandora's box is a source of unforeseen troubles or complications.
In Greek mythology, Pandora opened a forbidden container and released all evils into the world.
The phrase now describes any action that seems innocuous but unleashes cascading problems: Asking about her ex opened a Pandora's box.
To open Pandora's box is to set irreversible trouble in motion.
Greek sky god
- PrometheusFire-stealing benefactor of mortals
- EpimetheusGreek titan of afterthought
- hopeDesire for good outcomes
- evilsMorally harmful things
Theogony · hubris · punishment · jar · forbidden · divine retribution · Greek · ancient
Alert about danger
- consequenceResult of an action
- unintendedNot done on purpose
- irreversibleCannot be undone
- regretSorrow over past actions
hindsight · lesson · foresight · recklessness · temptation · forbidden · unleashing · opening
Urge toward the unwise
- forbiddenNot allowed
- irresistibleImpossible to withstand
- pryingIntrusively inquisitive
- meddlingIntrusive interference in others' concerns
inquisitiveness · investigation · probing · discovery · reveal · peek · unlock · trigger
Not predicted or expected
- complicationsDifficulties that emerge unexpectedly
- troublesDistressing difficulties
- problemsSituations needing resolution
- chaosComplete disorder and confusion
turmoil · cascade · ripple effect · snowball · uncontrollable · worms · secrets · revelation
Zeus
Greek sky god
- PrometheusFire-stealing benefactor of mortals
- EpimetheusGreek titan of afterthought
- hopeDesire for good outcomes
evils · Theogony · hubris · punishment · jar · forbidden · divine retribution · Greek · ancient · plague
warning
Alert about danger
- consequenceResult of an action
- unintendedNot done on purpose
- irreversibleCannot be undone
regret · hindsight · lesson · foresight · recklessness · temptation · forbidden · unleashing · opening · lid
temptation
Urge toward the unwise
- forbiddenNot allowed
- irresistibleImpossible to withstand
- pryingIntrusively inquisitive
meddling · inquisitiveness · investigation · probing · discovery · reveal · peek · unlock · trigger · catalyst
unforeseen
Not predicted or expected
- complicationsDifficulties that emerge unexpectedly
- troublesDistressing difficulties
- problemsSituations needing resolution
chaos · turmoil · cascade · ripple effect · snowball · uncontrollable · worms · secrets · revelation · exposure
- Mythological WordsAchilles heel, Adonis, aegis, ambrosia, Apollo
- Historical AllusionsTrojan horse, Achilles heel, Pyrrhic victory, crossing the Rubicon, sword of Damocles
- Greek & RomanAchilles heel, Trojan horse, Midas touch, Odyssey, Sisyphean
- Greek mythologyZeus, Athena, Apollo, Hera, Poseidon
- cautionary talesIcarus, Prometheus, Faust, Dr. Faustus, King Midas
- AllusionsAchilles heel, Trojan horse, forbidden fruit, Midas touch, siren song
Pandora's boxcornucopia
Abundance symbol, horn-shaped
horn of plenty · blessing in disguise · gift from the gods · golden goose · godsend
Pandora's boxtree of knowledge
Source of forbidden wisdom
enlightenment · revelation · epiphany · wisdom · blissful ignorance
boxing, boxy, inbox, boxful, Pandora, unbox, boxlike, outbox