Glossary entry (derived from question below)
English term or phrase:
to open a can of worms
French translation:
donner un coup de pied dans une fourmilière
Added to glossary by
Jerome Elhaik
Mar 25, 2007 03:00
17 yrs ago
11 viewers *
English term
to open a can of worms
English to French
Other
Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
How would you say, "I don't want to open a can of worms"
(such as by bringing up an unpleasant topic)?
I understand you can say "C'est un guêpier" for "It's a can of worms" but it's not quite the same meaning.
(such as by bringing up an unpleasant topic)?
I understand you can say "C'est un guêpier" for "It's a can of worms" but it's not quite the same meaning.
Proposed translations
(French)
Proposed translations
+6
26 mins
Selected
donner un coup de pied dans une fourmilière
Here are two useful links, the first of which is an astonishingly long debate about your question. They don't come up with THE perfect answer, but I selected the one which seems the most appropriate to me. Have a good read (you can choose english or french)...
The other one is a much shorter post.
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Note added at 28 minutes (2007-03-25 03:28:52 GMT)
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second thought, "donner un coup de pied dans LA fourmilière sounds better".
The other one is a much shorter post.
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Note added at 28 minutes (2007-03-25 03:28:52 GMT)
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second thought, "donner un coup de pied dans LA fourmilière sounds better".
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
kgk
: Thanks! I already saw the wordreference answer and found it lacking. Appreciated finding nakedtranslations answer.
10 mins
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| agree |
katsy
5 hrs
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| agree |
Melzie
5 hrs
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| agree |
Jock
: Bien trouvé !
6 hrs
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| agree |
Lidija Lazic
9 hrs
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| agree |
Nathalie Elson
1 day 3 hrs
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Selected automatically based on peer agreement."
+5
45 mins
Raymonde Gagnier
Canada
Canada
Native in English
&
French
Works in field
Canada
Also a narrator/je suis aussi narratrice
Native in: French (Variant: Canadian) 
, English
Works in: English to French
Related KudoZ points
:
4
ouvrir la boîte de Pandore
Ce n'est pas tout à fait ça, mais c'est la première idée qui s'impose à moi...
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
katsy
: peut-être mieux que la 1ère réponse, que j'aime aussi, car ça donne l'idée de ne pas être totalement conscient des conséquences, alors que la première proposition, peut contenir l'idée de vouloir semer la zizanie, enfin, il me semble
4 hrs
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Merci Katsy!
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| agree |
Cl Te (X)
5 hrs
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Merci Claudine!
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| agree |
Nicolas Coyer (X)
13 hrs
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Merci!
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| agree |
Irina Stanescu
13 hrs
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Merci Irina!
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| agree |
Sophie Raimondo
14 hrs
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Merci Sophieanne!
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1 hr
Delphine Joly
Native in French
Works in field
also an English teacher
Native in: French
Works in: English to French, French to English
(être) un sac de noeud
a can of worms is un sac de noeuds according to the mini dictionnary called talking animals.
I would emphasize it : c'est un VRAI sac de noeud
But is it the meaning you want to convey ?
I would emphasize it : c'est un VRAI sac de noeud
But is it the meaning you want to convey ?
6 hrs
déclencher un sac de nœuds / ouvrir la boîte de Pandore
Both these suggestions are given by Robert + Collins, the former being marked as more familiar in style, and the latter as 'literary'
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
Jock
: "Déclencher" before "un sac de noeuds" does not sound idiomatic to me (Google confirms my view.) Really strange it's in R C./I think so.
23 mins
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I rather felt the same, but I suppose it's in the sense of 'unleash'?
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| neutral |
Sophie Raimondo
: On dit souvent "quel sac de noeuds!", mais on ne le déclenche pas, effectivement...
8 hrs
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Merci, Sophieanne ! Ils ont bien dû le trouver qq part !
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Discussion
Sac de noeud refers to an actual situation rather than an anticipated one
boîte de Pandore would be appropriate if it relates to incoming difficulties and inextricable situation, even with full support of others