Question

I asked my student to explain what a slang term meant, but as soon as they started explaining it to me, it was like they had opened Pandora's Box. I was more confused when they finished than I was when they began! Where does this allusion come from? What does it mean?

Answer 1

Pandora's Box is an allusion from Greek mythology, referring to an action that unleashes a multitude of problems, only leaving hope behind once the box is closed.

Step-by-step explanation:

The allusion to Pandora's Box originates from ancient Greek mythology. The phrase typically refers to a source of immense, unforeseen trouble or complications, similar to opening a box that releases all sorts of evils into the world. The allegory of Pandora's Box comes from the story in which Pandora, the first woman on Earth, was given a box (or a jar) by the gods with the instruction not to open it. Overcome by curiosity, she opened it nonetheless, unleashing all evil contained inside upon humanity, leaving only hope inside once she had closed it again. In modern usage, mentioning Pandora's Box usually implies that a certain action, decision, or conversation has led to a situation where many undesirable and unforeseen problems have arisen.