open the floodgates

idiom

: to remove something serving to restrain an outburst

Many people fear that the court's latest ruling will open the floodgates for/to a host of new lawsuits.

Examples of open the floodgates in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Despite sympathy for the plaintiffs, many of the justices appeared wary of a broad ruling that might open the floodgates to litigation against the government. —Devin Dwyer, ABC News, 29 Apr. 2025

This orchestrated assault on the CFPB represents not just a bureaucratic shake-up but a direct attack on consumer protections, one that will disproportionately harm vulnerable communities, erode public trust, and open the floodgates for unchecked financial misconduct. —Lenwood V. Long, Sr., Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025

Now, the belief that Trump would not implement tariffs has dissipated, and that may open the floodgates for lower earnings estimates. —Bob Pisani, CNBC, 5 Mar. 2025

This adaptability should open the floodgates for various applications. —The Physics Arxiv Blog, Discover Magazine, 31 Mar. 2025

Rhymes for open the floodgates

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• abates
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• birthrates
• bookplates
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• classmates