open the floodgates
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English[edit]
Etymology[edit]
Literally, to allow floodwater that had been held back to flow freely
Pronunciation[edit]
Audio (AU) (file)
Verb[edit]
open the floodgates (third-person singular simple present opens the floodgates, present participle opening the floodgates, simple past and past participle opened the floodgates)
- (idiomatic) To allow some action to proceed more swiftly or to a greater extent