A brief medley of mixed metaphors, all rather fun to untangle, or better yet – visualize!

“It would open up a can of worms and a legal minefield about freedom, religion and equalities legislation… It may open up old wounds and put people into the trenches; no one wants that.” David Burrowes, Conservative MP, on gay marriage, 17 January 2012.

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“Labour are fighting like rats in a barrel.” Charlie Elphicke, Conservative MP, 16 February 2014.

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“I don’t like it. When you open that Pandora’s box, you will find it full of Trojan horses.” Ernest Bevin, Labour Foreign Secretary, on the idea of a Council of Europe, 1948.

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“I’m kickstarting a drive to get employee ownership into the bloodstream.” Nick Clegg, 17 January 2012.

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“Far-right vacuum could trigger ‘lone-wolf’ attacks.” Independent headline, 29 December 2012.

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“They’ve put all their eggs in one basket and it’s misfired.” Paul Merson, Sky football pundit, of West Ham’s purchase of Andy Carroll. From Vincent Clark.

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“Out of the hat on Monday night the Home Secretary produced the rabbit, the temporary provisions Bill, as her fig leaf to cover her major U-turn.” Simon Hughes, Lib Dem MP, 2008.

These are courtesy of the Independent.

The image shows Trial & Error, Meredith Frampton, painted in 1939.