The English expression from the later retelling of Pandora’s jar is “Pandora’s box.”
Today the phrase describes an action or discovery that creates many unforeseen problems. It usually carries a warning: once the container is opened, the consequences cannot easily be reversed.
The expression does not reproduce Hesiod’s original wording exactly. His Greek story uses a pithos, generally translated as a jar. The box formulation developed through later transmission, especially the Latin phrase associated with Renaissance humanist Erasmus.
The phrase is often used outside mythology—in journalism, politics, science, and everyday speech. It should not be confused with “Trojan horse,” which refers to concealed danger or infiltration, or “Midas touch,” which refers to apparently turning things into success or wealth.