opens the floodgates
Allows overwhelming flow
Opens the floodgates means to remove a barrier that was holding something back, allowing a sudden rush or overwhelming flow.
The image is of dam gates releasing pent-up water.
The phrase almost always describes consequences—intended or not—of a policy, decision, or precedent: The court ruling opened the floodgates to lawsuits.
It carries a note of warning: once opened, floodgates are hard to close.
- set freeRelease from confinement
- cut looseRelease from restraint
- let looseRemove restraints from
- unleashTo release from restraint
- free reinUnrestricted freedom to act
dam · dam burst · sluice · reservoir · deregulation · revolution · catharsis · domino effect · chain reaction · spillway · torrent · watershed moment · slippery slope · inundation · outpouring · let it out · pent up · deluge
opens the floodgatesstems the tide
Stops overwhelming momentum
holds back · reins in · puts the brakes on · contains · restrains
opens, opened, opening, openings, opener, openers, openly, openness, reopen