# Is there a term for when a cure or solution to a problem becomes a bigger problem **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 30, 2019, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-term-for-when-a-cure-or-solution-to-a-problem-becomes-a-bigger-problem/839472 "2019-08-30T12:39:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Nippless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/df788c/32.png) [@Nippless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nippless)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2019, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-term-for-when-a-cure-or-solution-to-a-problem-becomes-a-bigger-problem/839472/1 "2019-08-30T12:39:31Z")
Is there a term for when a cure or solution to a problem becomes a bigger problem than what it was supposed to resolve? for example, Australia and toads. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2019, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-term-for-when-a-cure-or-solution-to-a-problem-becomes-a-bigger-problem/839472/2 "2019-08-30T13:03:57Z")
Are you looking for something more concise than the common expression “the cure is worse than the disease”? ---
**Author:** ![Dandan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a87d85/32.png) [@Dandan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dandan)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2019, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-term-for-when-a-cure-or-solution-to-a-problem-becomes-a-bigger-problem/839472/3 "2019-08-30T13:15:06Z")
Engineering. Oops, our project has a problem - fix it! Dang, that led to a bigger problem - fix it! Son of a… I am constitutionally incapable of sprinkling emoticons and cross-eyed smilies around, sorry. Dan ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2019, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-term-for-when-a-cure-or-solution-to-a-problem-becomes-a-bigger-problem/839472/4 "2019-08-30T13:16:58Z")
Unintended consequences ---
**Author:** ![am77494](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d2c977/32.png) [@am77494](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/am77494)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2019, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-term-for-when-a-cure-or-solution-to-a-problem-becomes-a-bigger-problem/839472/5 "2019-08-30T13:17:31Z")
Unintended consequences? > **[Unintended consequences](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unintended_consequences)** > > In the social sciences, unintended consequences (sometimes unanticipated consequences or unforeseen consequences) are outcomes of a purposeful action that are not intended or foreseen. The term was popularised in the twentieth century by American sociologist Robert K. Merton and expanded by economist Thomas Sowell and psychologist Stuart Vyse. > Unintended consequences can be grouped into three types: > The idea of unintended consequences dates back at least to John Locke who discussed the unint... Got ninja’ed by telemark ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2019, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-term-for-when-a-cure-or-solution-to-a-problem-becomes-a-bigger-problem/839472/6 "2019-08-30T13:24:11Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > Unintended consequences That includes what the OP is looking for, but it’s much wider in scope. It’s not limited to the consequences of something intended to solve a problem; and it’s not limited to negative consequences. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2019, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-term-for-when-a-cure-or-solution-to-a-problem-becomes-a-bigger-problem/839472/7 "2019-08-30T13:35:40Z")
Here is a phrase I am fond of that is somewhat related: “Be careful what you wish for. It might come true.” ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2019, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-term-for-when-a-cure-or-solution-to-a-problem-becomes-a-bigger-problem/839472/8 "2019-08-30T14:08:54Z")
I always like the medical expression **iatrogenic** meaning illness, injury or any adverse result caused by the actions of a physician or by a therapeutic treatment or test. ---
**Author:** ![minlokwat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minlokwat/32/2844_2.png) [@minlokwat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minlokwat)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2019, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-term-for-when-a-cure-or-solution-to-a-problem-becomes-a-bigger-problem/839472/9 "2019-08-30T16:18:06Z")
> [@Nippless](#): > > for example, Australia and toads. They just didn’t think ahead. When the town of Springfield was overrun by Bolivian tree lizards… Skinner: Well I was wrong. The lizards are a godsend. Lisa: But isn’t that a bit short-sighted? What happens when we’re overrun by lizards? Skinner: No problem. We simply release wave after wave of Chinese needle snakes. They’ll wipe out the lizards. Lisa: But aren’t the snakes even worse? Skinner: Yes, but we’re prepared for that. We’ve lined up a fabulous type of gorilla that thrives on snake meat. Lisa: But then we’re stuck with gorillas! Skinner: No, that’s the beautiful part. When wintertime rolls around, the gorillas simply freeze to death. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2019, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-term-for-when-a-cure-or-solution-to-a-problem-becomes-a-bigger-problem/839472/10 "2019-08-30T16:38:25Z")
Do you mean blowback? ---
**Author:** ![Trancephalic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trancephalic/32/380_2.png) [@Trancephalic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trancephalic)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2019, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-term-for-when-a-cure-or-solution-to-a-problem-becomes-a-bigger-problem/839472/11 "2019-08-30T16:55:01Z")
A comedy of errors? A negative feedback loop? ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2019, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-term-for-when-a-cure-or-solution-to-a-problem-becomes-a-bigger-problem/839472/12 "2019-08-30T17:04:11Z")
A poison pill is a term I’ve heard for this in political arenas. It’ll fix the problem, but… ---
**Author:** ![Ignotus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ecc23a/32.png) [@Ignotus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ignotus)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2019, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-term-for-when-a-cure-or-solution-to-a-problem-becomes-a-bigger-problem/839472/13 "2019-08-30T17:08:04Z")
Something even worse than a [Pyrrhic victory](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyrrhic_victory)? Karma is a bitch! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2019, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-term-for-when-a-cure-or-solution-to-a-problem-becomes-a-bigger-problem/839472/14 "2019-08-30T17:14:06Z")
I always thought a poison pill in politics was something stuck into a bill in order to try to prevent its passing. I don’t think it’s usually intended to provide a solution to anything at all (other than to preventing the bill from being enacted), though whichever party stuck it in there may claim that it is. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2019, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-term-for-when-a-cure-or-solution-to-a-problem-becomes-a-bigger-problem/839472/15 "2019-08-30T17:24:48Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > I always thought a poison pill in politics was something stuck into a bill in order to try to prevent its passing. I don’t think it’s usually intended to provide a solution to anything at all (other than to preventing the bill from being enacted), though whichever party stuck it in there may claim that it is. I’d always heard it as certain provisions in company charters/bylaws that ward against hostile takeovers. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2019, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-term-for-when-a-cure-or-solution-to-a-problem-becomes-a-bigger-problem/839472/16 "2019-08-30T18:23:54Z")
In economics texts, it’s usually called the [cobra effect](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cobra_effect), so named after a scheme in colonial India to pay bounties on dead cobras. Supposedly some people started breeding cobras on purpose to get the bounty, so the country ended up with more cobras than before. There is some doubt whether a significant number of cobras were intentionally bred, but the name has stuck. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2019, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-term-for-when-a-cure-or-solution-to-a-problem-becomes-a-bigger-problem/839472/17 "2019-08-30T18:30:07Z")
“Complications.” ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2019, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-term-for-when-a-cure-or-solution-to-a-problem-becomes-a-bigger-problem/839472/18 "2019-08-30T18:38:02Z")
> [@bibliophage](#): > > In economics texts, it’s usually called the [cobra effect](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cobra_effect), so named after a scheme in colonial India to pay bounties on dead cobras. Supposedly some people started breeding cobras on purpose to get the bounty, so the country ended up with more cobras than before. There is some doubt whether a significant number of cobras were intentionally bred, but the name has stuck. A similar story which appears to be true (but there doesn’t seem to be a catchy phrase deriving from it. Perhaps we could create one?) The [Kill Sparrows Campaign](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Pests_Campaign). > [@](#): > > The Four Pests Campaign (Chinese: 除四害; pinyin: Chú Sì Hài), was one of the first actions taken in the Great Leap Forward in China from 1958 to 1962. The four pests to be eliminated were rats, flies, mosquitoes, and sparrows. The extermination of sparrows is also known as Great Sparrow Campaign (Chinese: 打麻雀运动; pinyin: Dǎ Máquè Yùndòng) or Kill Sparrows Campaign (Chinese: 消灭麻雀运动; pinyin: Xiāomiè Máquè Yùndòng), which resulted in severe ecological imbalance, being one of the causes of the Great Chinese Famine. j ---
**Author:** ![Mops](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mops/32/16494_2.png) [@Mops](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mops)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2019, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-term-for-when-a-cure-or-solution-to-a-problem-becomes-a-bigger-problem/839472/19 "2019-08-30T21:08:26Z")
There is the German word _Verschlimmbesserung_ (a portmanteau of _Verschlimmerung_ and _Verbesserung_), and dictionaries say **disimprovement** was the English translation of that. Does that word fit? ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2019, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-term-for-when-a-cure-or-solution-to-a-problem-becomes-a-bigger-problem/839472/20 "2019-08-30T21:13:18Z")
Out of the frying pan, into the fire? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-term-for-when-a-cure-or-solution-to-a-problem-becomes-a-bigger-problem/839472.md?page=2)