rearing one's head
Surfacing into view
Rearing one's head describes something emerging or becoming apparent, usually something unwelcome.
The image comes from a snake or monster lifting its head into view.
Almost always appears with an adjective: Inflation is rearing its ugly head again, Old rivalries reared their heads at the reunion.
The phrase signals that a problem thought dormant or defeated has resurfaced.
- appearingBecoming visible or present
- making an appearanceAttending briefly, being seen
- surfacingComing to the surface
- coming to lightBecoming publicly known
- arisingComing into being
bubbling up · materializing · opposition · confrontation · showing · dawning · unveiling · manifesting · coming to the fore · resentment · anxiety · resistance · fearfulness · resurgence · old wounds · struggle · discord · tension
rearing one's headkeeping a low profile
Avoiding notice deliberately
receding · going underground · vanishing · subsiding · lying low
rearing one's headlying low
Remaining unnoticed deliberately
keeping one's head down · withdrawing · retreating · shrinking back · backing down
rear, rears, reared, rearing, head, heads, headed, heading, headless