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
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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
That could open the floodgates for analysts to begin lowering earnings estimates in other sectors.
—Bob Pisani, CNBC, 12 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for open the floodgates
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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
That could open the floodgates for analysts to begin lowering earnings estimates in other sectors.
—Bob Pisani, CNBC, 12 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for open the floodgates
Cite this Entry
“Open the floodgates.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/open%20the%20floodgates. Accessed 2 May. 2025.
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