open the floodgates
Definition
› If an action or a decision opens the floodgates, it allows something to happen a lot or allows many people to do something that was not previously allowed: Officials are worried that allowing these refugees into the country will open the floodgates to thousands more.Allowing and permitting
(Definition of open the floodgates from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus
© Cambridge University Press)
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Synonyms and related words:
- admit of sth phrasal verb
- allow of sth phrasal verb
- allow verb (GIVE PERMISSION)
- allowable adjective
- authorization noun
- authorize verb
- concession noun (SOMETHING ALLOWED)
- given the chance/choice idiom
- go ahead phrasal verb
- imprimatur noun
- leave noun (PERMISSION)
- leave verb (GIVE RESPONSIBILITY)
- let sb/sth in phrasal verb
- let sb/sth out phrasal verb
- mandate verb (GIVE PERMISSION)
- OK noun
- sanction noun (APPROVAL)
- submit verb (ALLOW)
- unlicensed adjective
- valid adjective
Topic:
Allowing and permitting
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