floodgate

水闸、水门

Engineers opened the floodgate to lower the reservoir's water level.

工程师打开水闸，以降低水库的水位。

闸门、门槛常用复数，比喻

The court ruling could open the floodgates to thousands of similar claims.

这项法院判决可能会为数千件类似的索赔打开闸门。

引发大量、一发不可收拾口语

Her apology opened the floodgates, and everyone started sharing their stories.

她的道歉打开了话匣子，大家纷纷开始分享自己的故事。