pandora's box: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2-C1Formal to semi-formal; common in written and spoken discourse including journalism, academic writing, and everyday metaphorical use.
Quick answer
What does “pandora's box” mean?
An action or decision that seems small or insignificant but leads to many unforeseen and serious complications.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An action or decision that seems small or insignificant but leads to many unforeseen and serious complications.
A metaphor for any source of great and unexpected troubles; a situation that once begun generates a chain of complex problems that are difficult or impossible to control.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. The myth is equally well-known in both cultures.
Connotations
Carries the same weight of caution and foreboding in both varieties.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in British journalism and political commentary, but widely used in both.
Grammar
How to Use “pandora's box” in a Sentence
to open Pandora's boxPandora's box of [plural noun]like a Pandora's boxVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “pandora's box” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The inquiry threatened to Pandora's-box the entire scandal.
American English
- The lawsuit could Pandora's-box decades of corporate misconduct.
adjective
British English
- They faced a Pandora's-box situation with the old contracts.
American English
- The policy had a Pandora's-box effect on the community.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used to warn against business decisions or investigations that may reveal hidden scandals, liabilities, or complexities.
Academic
Used in history, political science, and ethics to describe policy decisions or historical events with cascading negative consequences.
Everyday
Used to describe starting a family argument, delving into a friend's past, or any action that leads to unexpected trouble.
Technical
Rare in hard sciences; occasionally used in software development to describe a simple code change that breaks multiple systems.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “pandora's box”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “pandora's box”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “pandora's box”
- Using it for a positive surprise (incorrect). Forgetting the possessive 's' (Pandora box). Using it for a single, large problem rather than a multitude.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, in modern usage it is exclusively negative, implying the release of evils or troubles. In the original myth, only 'Hope' remained inside.
No, its core meaning involves the multiplication and proliferation of problems, not just one large issue.
The earliest Greek versions by Hesiod described it as a large storage jar (pithos). The mistranslation to 'box' occurred in the 16th century.
It is acceptable in formal writing and speech but is also widely understood in everyday conversation as a vivid metaphor.
An action or decision that seems small or insignificant but leads to many unforeseen and serious complications.
Pandora's box: in British English it is pronounced /pænˌdɔːrəz ˈbɒks/, and in American English it is pronounced /pænˌdɔrəz ˈbɑːks/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Open a can of worms”
- “Let the genie out of the bottle”
- “Wake a sleeping dog”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a beautifully wrapped box that, when opened, releases endless buzzing problems like hornets. The name 'Pandora' sounds like 'Pandemonium'.
Conceptual Metaphor
PROBLEMS ARE CONTENTS RELEASED FROM A CONTAINER / IGNORANCE IS A CLOSED BOX / KNOWLEDGE (OF TROUBLE) IS OPENING.
Practice
Quiz
Which situation best describes 'opening Pandora's box'?