rear one's head
Make oneself known
To rear one's head is to appear or emerge, almost always said of something unwelcome: Jealousy reared its head when she saw them together.
The image comes from a snake or other creature rising up threateningly.
The phrase nearly always takes the form rear its ugly head, with the adjective reinforcing the negative connotation.
- come to lightBecome revealed or known
- ariseCome into being
- threatenPromise harm or punishment
- surfaceOutermost boundary layer
- loomFabric-making frame
menace · bubble up · come out of the woodwork · show up · manifest · erupt · emerge · dawn · break through · reveal · materialize · make an appearance · confront · make waves · stick out · raise eyebrows · crop up · flare