opening the floodgates
Removing all barriers
Opening the floodgates means removing a barrier that had been holding something back, allowing a sudden overwhelming flow.
The phrase derives from literal floodgates that control water in dams and canals, but it's used almost entirely in figurative contexts.
When someone opens the floodgates, they trigger an uncontrollable surge—of emotions, complaints, lawsuits, immigration, or anything else that might come in torrents.
The court ruling opened the floodgates to similar claims.
The implication is usually cautionary: once opened, floodgates are hard to close again.
- sluicegateAdjustable water barrier
- dam burstStructural water barrier failure
- tidal waveEnormous oceanic surge
- influxSudden large arrival
- delugeSevere overflow of water
release · cascade · surge · domino effect · ripple effect · chain reaction · trigger · catalyze · instigate · slippery slope · escalation · liberate · proliferation · point of no return · let loose · outpouring · set free · catharsis
opening the floodgatesstemming the tide
Stopping a powerful advance
blocking · holding back · sealing off · containing · bottling up
opening the floodgatescontrolled release
Gradual substance dispensing mechanism
trickling · rationing · doling out · parceling out · slow roll
opening, opened, opens, opener, openers, openly, openness, reopen, reopened