cat's cradle

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cat's cradle (countable and uncountable, plural cat's cradles)

1. (uncountable) A children's game of forming string into various shapes around one's fingers.
2. (countable, idiomatic) Any complicated structure that appears to be without purpose.
   • 2020, Sophy Roberts, The Lost Pianos of Siberia, page 89:

     There was the a risk that my research might reveal the original, rightful owner of an instrument, which could open up a cat's cradle of restitution claims.

• cardcastle