Pandora's boxes
Trouble-releasing vessels
Pandora's boxes is the plural of Pandora's box, a source of unexpected troubles or complications.
In Greek myth, Pandora opened a container releasing all evils into the world.
The phrase warns against actions with unforeseen consequences: The new policy opened several Pandora's boxes that administrators hadn't anticipated.
Each box represents a distinct source of cascading problems.
- can of wormsSource of unforeseen complications
- slippery slopeArgument predicting inevitable escalation
- chain reactionSelf-sustaining causal sequence
- ZeusGreek sky god
- HopeFeminine given name
Curiosity · forbidden fruit · point of no return · Trojan horse · Prometheus · Chaos · Human nature · Greek myths · Existentialism · cautionary tale · nuclear weapons · Faust · forbidden knowledge · playing God · Faustian bargain · Epimetheus · Epimetheus
Pandora's boxescornucopias
Symbols of abundant harvest
treasure chests · horns of plenty · blessings in disguise · windfalls · fountains of youth
Pandora's boxessafe bets
Likely winning wagers
sure things · known quantities · open books · safe havens · bird in the hand
Pandora's boxesarks
Large refuge vessels
treasure troves · safe havens · sanctuaries · cornucopias · hope chests