floodgate opened
- idiom
:
se abrieron las compuertas
- After the policy changed, the floodgate opened and hundreds of applications arrived within a week.
Examples
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Once the news broke, the floodgate opened to a wave of public criticism.
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When she finally spoke about her experiences, it was as if the floodgate opened and all her emotions poured out.
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Once the floodgate opened, chaos ensued.
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The floodgate opened during the storm, causing severe damage.
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After the policy changed, the floodgate opened and hundreds of applications arrived within a week.
-
Once the news broke, the floodgate opened to a wave of public criticism.
-
When she finally spoke about her experiences, it was as if the floodgate opened and all her emotions poured out.
Synonyms
75
2.4
A very large number of things that arrive suddenly
21
3.2
An event when water or other things flow over the edge of a container
1
6.4
A sudden flow of water or people into a place
A sudden movement inward of water, air, or people
A sudden large flow of feelings or help from many people
A sudden large flow of water that floods land
Land or place that becomes filled with water after heavy rain
Antonyms
How Sudden
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly derivable from 'floodgate' (a barrier holding back a large flow) plus 'opened' — removing a restraint leads to a sudden outpouring. This barrier-release metaphor is straightforward and cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents can infer the intended sense.
Etymology
The phrase floodgate opened comes from a simple picture: a gate that holds back water. When the floodgate is opened, a large rush of water pours out, so the phrase means that when a barrier is removed there is a 'sudden, out of control flow' of things like applications, criticism, or emotions.