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

The onslaught seemed to open the floodgates for a larger critique of her delivery—while well-articulated, can be razor sharp and unpalatable. —Jasmine Browley, Essence, 21 Mar. 2024

Time will tell whether the ICJ’s decision to open the floodgates to more cases means better protections of human rights or more politicized lawsuits by states. —Jill Goldenziel, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024

Lovich backed that up with a three-run homer, his first as a Razorback, to open the floodgates. —Tom Murphy, arkansasonline.com, 11 Mar. 2024

The lengthy flight duration, emotive movie plotlines, and a certain amount of anonymity is a sure-fire way to open the floodgates. —Olivia Morelli, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Mar. 2024

Finding otherwise, a lawyer for Mr. Trump had warned, would open the floodgates to any number of legal challenges against former presidents. —Charlie Savage, New York Times, 6 Feb. 2024

McCarthy's announcement before California's Dec. 8 campaign filing deadline is likely to open the floodgates for candidates to run for his ruby red congressional district. —Tal Axelrod, ABC News, 6 Dec. 2023

Bluesky will also open the floodgates for federation early next year. —Umar Shakir, The Verge, 16 Nov. 2023

Gaston and Moore connected for a 72-yard touchdown to open the floodgates for Mobile Christian, the only TD through the air on the night as the Leopards raced to a 21-0 first-quarter lead that ballooned to 38-0 after three periods. —al, 9 Sep. 2023