floodgate
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++flood·gate /ˈflʌdɡeɪt/ noun [countable] 1 open the floodgates a) LET/ALLOWif something opens the floodgates, or if the floodgates open, it suddenly becomes possible for a lot of things to happen which were prevented from happening before 打开闸门，（使）一发不可收拾 If this case is successful it could open the floodgates for thousands of similar claims. 如果本案胜诉，就有可能引发成千上万的类似索赔。 There are fears that the floodgates will open and large numbers of parents will take their children out of school. 有人担心闸门将由此打开，许多父母会将孩子从学校带走。 b) SHOW A FEELING OR ATTITUDEif the floodgates open, or if something opens the floodgates, someone begins to cry and show their emotions after keeping them hidden 打开感情的闸门，（使）感情爆发 His display of kindness to her opened the floodgates again, and she began to sob loudly. 他对她的关怀再次打开了她感情的闸门，她大声地抽泣起来。2. WATERa gate that is used to control the flow of water from a large lake or river 泄水闸，防洪闸
Examples from the Corpus
floodgate• The decision closes the floodgates to hundreds of potential appeals by convicted drink-drivers.• A move like this will open the floodgates.• This easing of restrictions opened the floodgates for commercial Internet access.• The floodgates opened then and Bordon piled up six more goals.• The floodgates were now open and it is from here that the reverse sequence of On the Look-Out commences.• Once this floodgate opens, there will be knightly surcharges for courses, laboratories, lecture hall air and library dust.flood·gate nounChineseSyllable
or if the floodgates, if the floodgates opens Corpus something
floodgate
flood‧gate /ˈflʌdɡeɪt/
noun [countable]
1. open the floodgates
a. if something opens the floodgates, or if the floodgates open, it suddenly becomes possible for a lot of things to happen which were prevented from happening before:
If this case is successful it could open the floodgates for thousands of similar claims.
There are fears that the floodgates will open and large numbers of parents will take their children out of school.
b. if the floodgates open, or if something opens the floodgates, someone begins to cry and show their emotions after keeping them hidden:
His display of kindness to her opened the floodgates again, and she began to sob loudly.
2. a gate that is used to control the flow of water from a large lake or river
flood‧gate /ˈflʌdɡeɪt/
noun [countable]1. open the floodgates
a. if something opens the floodgates, or if the floodgates open, it suddenly becomes possible for a lot of things to happen which were prevented from happening before:
b. if the floodgates open, or if something opens the floodgates, someone begins to cry and show their emotions after keeping them hidden:
2. a gate that is used to control the flow of water from a large lake or river