open the floodgates

open the floodgates
{v. phr.} To let loose an outburst of human activity or emotion. * /It would open the floodgates of anger and discontent if the university raised tuition too soon./

Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.

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  • open the floodgates — Ⅰ. open the floodgates (to sb/sth) ► to make a lot of people do something by removing a rule that stopped it being possible before, especially when you do not want this to happen: »Banks feared the legal action could open the floodgates for… …   Financial and business terms

  • open the floodgates to sb — Ⅰ. open the floodgates (to sb/sth) ► to make a lot of people do something by removing a rule that stopped it being possible before, especially when you do not want this to happen: »Banks feared the legal action could open the floodgates for… …   Financial and business terms

  • open the floodgates — To remove all restrictions or controls • • • Main Entry: ↑flood * * * open the floodgates phrase to suddenly make it possible or easier for a lot of things to happen Political reforms have opened the floodgates to foreign investment. Thesaurus:… …   Useful english dictionary

  • open the floodgates — If you open the floodgates, you make something possible to happen that had been difficult, illegal or impossible …   The small dictionary of idiomes

  • open the floodgates —    If someone or something opens the floodgates, they release something that had previously been held under control.     It is feared that easing price controls will open the floodgates to inflation …   English Idioms & idiomatic expressions

  • open the floodgates — if an action or a decision opens the floodgates, it allows something to happen a lot or allows many people to do something that was not previously allowed. If they win their case it could open the floodgates to others with similar compensation… …   New idioms dictionary

  • open the floodgates — {v. phr.} To let loose an outburst of human activity or emotion. * /It would open the floodgates of anger and discontent if the university raised tuition too soon./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • open\ the\ floodgates — v. phr. To let loose an outburst of human activity or emotion. It would open the floodgates of anger and discontent if the university raised tuition too soon …   Словарь американских идиом

  • open the floodgates to sb/sth — Ⅰ. open the floodgates (to sb/sth) ► to make a lot of people do something by removing a rule that stopped it being possible before, especially when you do not want this to happen: »Banks feared the legal action could open the floodgates for… …   Financial and business terms

  • open the floodgates to sth — Ⅰ. open the floodgates (to sb/sth) ► to make a lot of people do something by removing a rule that stopped it being possible before, especially when you do not want this to happen: »Banks feared the legal action could open the floodgates for… …   Financial and business terms

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