open the floodgates

Literally, to allow floodwater that had been held back to flow freely.

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open the floodgates (third-person singular simple present opens the floodgates, present participle opening the floodgates, simple past and past participle opened the floodgates)

1. (idiomatic) To allow some action to proceed more swiftly or to a greater extent.
   • 1987 September 1, R.E.M., “Welcome to the Occupation”, in Document:

     Where we open up the floodgates, freedom reigns supreme.
     Fire on the hemisphere below.

• let rip