learnedaxIs there an expression that describes trying to take one thing and inadvertently dragging along many things attached to or entangled with that thing? I feel like there ought to be some common word or phrase for it, but nothing springs to mind.
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Date: 2010-07-07 07:45 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-07-07 07:57 pm (UTC)I'm thinking of something like a jumble of cables, where their entanglement makes it difficult to pull out just one.
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Date: 2010-07-07 08:12 pm (UTC)ravel
-els -eling, -eled
1. to tangle (threads, fibres, etc.) or (of threads, fibres, etc.) to become entangled
2. to tease or draw out (the fibers of a fabric or garment) or (of a garment or fabric) to fray out in loose ends; unravel
3. (tr; usually foll by out) to disentangle or resolve to ravel out a complicated story
4. to break up (a road surface) in patches or (of a road surface) to begin to break up; fret; scab
5. Archaic to make or become confused or complicated
n
a tangle or complication
And the ancillary word raveling, which refers to a thread or fiber that has become separated from a woven material.
On a related note:
I'm reminded of this item from ThinkGeek...
http://www.thinkgeek.com/geektoys/cubegoodies/8b4e/
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Date: 2010-07-07 08:17 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-07-07 08:22 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-07-07 11:14 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-07-08 12:15 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-07-08 09:52 pm (UTC)I was thinking this, as well. Although (like all the other suggestions) it may be more or less appropriate depending on the application.