rabbit hole
Plural
rabbit holes
1
a situation marked by complexity, confusion, or strangeness, which is often difficult to escape from
The idiom "rabbit hole" is a reference to Lewis Carroll's famous book, "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland," where Alice follows a rabbit down a hole into a whimsical and bewildering world. In a figurative sense, it is used to describe a situation marked by complexity, confusion, or strangeness, often difficult to escape from, where one becomes deeply involved in something unexpected or complex.
- Let's avoid that particular rabbit hole and consider a broader and more unsettling point.
- She once went down that political rabbit hole.
- Their advice is not meant to send you down a rabbit hole, and involve you in chaos and disorder.
- Researching conspiracy theories on the internet can lead you down a rabbit hole of misinformation and confusion.
- After starting the home renovation project, they found themselves going down a rabbit hole of unexpected problems and costs.
2
something that a person finds so interesting that they cannot let go of it
The idiom "rabbit hole" originates from Lewis Carroll's famous novel "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland." In the story, Alice follows a white rabbit down a rabbit hole, which leads her into a whimsical and unpredictable world. The term "rabbit hole" has since been used metaphorically to describe a situation where someone becomes deeply interested or obsessed with something, unable to let go or move on easily.
- After watching one video on YouTube, I fell down the rabbit hole and spent hours watching videos on the same topic.
- Jake got caught in the rabbit hole of online shopping, constantly browsing through websites and adding items to his cart, unable to resist the allure of new deals and discounts.
- Lisa found herself down the rabbit hole of social media, endlessly scrolling through feeds, liking posts, and following new accounts, unable to break free from the addictive nature of online platforms.
- When Sarah discovered the new TV series, she fell down the rabbit hole and binge-watched all the episodes in one sitting.
3
a small hole or tunnel in the ground that is dug by rabbits and used as a burrow or shelter
- He broke his ankle when his foot got caught in a rabbit hole.
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