dam up
Stop water's path
To dam up is to block or obstruct the flow of something, literally or figuratively.
Water dams up behind a barrier.
Emotions dam up when suppressed: She had dammed up her grief for years.
The phrase emphasizes accumulation behind the obstruction—pressure building from what can't flow freely.
Solid mass, or impede
- clogBlock or wooden shoe
- blockageObstruction halting movement
- chokeObstruct breathing or airflow
- jamCooked fruit spread
bottleneck · congest · occlude · snarl · plug · stanch · stem · staunch
Suppress from expression
- repressHold back forcibly
- stifleSuppress or restrain
- containHold within limits
- restrainLimit freedom of movement
inhibit · check · curb · hold back · keep in · swallow · choke back · cork
Large water storage basin
- water storageHolding liquid reserves
- retentionContinued holding or possession
- poolingMerging shared contributions
- hold backPrevent forward movement
collect · accumulate · impound · trap · gather · amass · stockpile · sequester
River flood barrier
- dikeWall against flooding
- embankmentRaised earth structure
- weirLow river barrier
- spillwayDam's water release structure
floodgate · sluice gate · barrage · retaining wall · culvert · lock · impoundment · headwater
block
Solid mass, or impede
jam · bottleneck · congest · occlude · snarl · plug · stanch · stem · staunch
hold in
Suppress from expression
restrain · inhibit · check · curb · hold back · keep in · swallow · choke back · cork · suppress
reservoir
Large water storage basin
- water storageHolding liquid reserves
- retentionContinued holding or possession
- poolingMerging shared contributions
hold back · collect · accumulate · impound · trap · gather · amass · stockpile · sequester · pond
levee
River flood barrier
- dikeWall against flooding
- embankmentRaised earth structure
- weirLow river barrier
spillway · floodgate · sluice gate · barrage · retaining wall · culvert · lock · impoundment · headwater · waterworks
- restrainhold back, suppress, hold in, keep in, keep down
- shutdownshut down, power down, power off, turn off, switch off