What Does “Going Down the Rabbit Hole” Mean?
“Going down the rabbit hole” means entering a strange, complicated, or deeply absorbing situation—often by following one idea into many connected discoveries.
Literary Origin
The expression draws from Alice following the White Rabbit into a hole and entering Wonderland in Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.
Modern Meaning
Online, it often describes spending unexpected hours researching a niche subject, watching linked videos, reading theories, or following increasingly specific questions.
Positive and Negative Uses
A rabbit hole can be delightful curiosity or an unhealthy distraction. The tone depends on whether the exploration is rewarding, confusing, compulsive, or misleading.