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Open the Floodgates

What Does "Open the Floodgates" Mean?

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"Open the floodgates" is an English idiom. It means "to allow a large quantity or flow of something to be released or unleashed, often with overwhelming consequences."

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "open the floodgates" used in a sentence:
  • The announcement of the new product opened the floodgates of customer orders.
  • Lowering the interest rates could open the floodgates to increased borrowing and spending.
  • The viral video opened the floodgates of public attention and media coverage.
meaning for open the floodgates

What Is an Idiom?

An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Open the Floodgates" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.

An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.

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