In the common English idiom, opening Pandora’s box usually releases trouble.
The expression describes an action that creates many unexpected problems or harmful consequences. It comes from the Greek myth in which Pandora opens a container and releases evils into the world. In everyday English, the phrase is usually metaphorical rather than a reference to a literal object.
Examples include saying that a legal dispute, a controversial investigation, or a risky experiment “opened Pandora’s box.” The intended meaning is that one decision has unleashed complications that are difficult to control or reverse.
The familiar English wording also contains a historical change. Hesiod’s original story describes a large jar, not a box. The box version became established through later translations and retellings, while “trouble” is the concise modern summary of the idiom’s consequence. The exact ancient list of evils varies by translation, but the figurative meaning is stable.