pandoras.boxとは 意味・読み方・使い方

固有名詞

Pandora's box

1. (Greek mythology) A box given to Pandora by Zeus, whose instructions stated that it must not be opened, and were then ignored, leading to disastrous consequences.

名詞

Pandora's box (plural Pandora's boxes)

1. (idiomatic) A source of unforeseen trouble.

   Synonym: Pandora's jar

   • 1837, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], “The Morality of Diamonds”, in Ethel Churchill: Or, The Two Brides. […], volume I, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 16:

     There was an evil in Pandora's box
     Beyond all other ones, yet it came forth
     In guise so lovely, that men crowded round
     And sought it as the dearest of all treasure.

   • 1992, Neal Stephenson, Snow Crash, →ISBN, page 371:

     The first thing it did was to spawn a whole Pandora's box of DNA viruses—smallpox, influenza and so on.

参考

• can of worms
• genie is out of the bottle
• kettle of fish
• open Pandora's box
• tar baby