if something unpleasant raises its ugly head, it becomes a problem that people have to deal with.
All over Europe, racism is rearing its ugly head once more.
(redirected from raise its head)
raise its (ugly) head
Of a difficult, unpleasant problem, to present itself and force people to deal with it. Fundamentalist extremism has been raising its head all around the world over the last couple years.I can't believe tax day is already raising its ugly head again.