"open the floodgates" in Chinese (Traditional)

• 打開閘門
• 引發（某事的大量發生）

Definition

做某事，突然讓大量某物發生，常形容情感、行動或事件被壓抑後突然爆發。

Usage Notes (Chinese (Traditional))

這是比喻用法，不是字面意思。常用於描述情緒、輿論或某種行動（如“open the floodgates to complaints”）。隱含一旦開始就難以控制。適用於正式和非正式場合。不要與水利工程中的閘門混淆。

Examples

Social media opened the floodgates to information sharing.

社交媒體**打開了閘門**，讓資訊大量傳播。

If we lower the price, it might open the floodgates to complaints.

如果我們降價，可能會**打開閘門**，引來投訴。

Her speech opened the floodgates of emotion in the audience.

她的演講**打開了情感的閘門**，讓觀眾感動不已。

Once we started giving refunds, it really opened the floodgates.

一開始退款，我們真的**打開了閘門**。

Publishing that study will open the floodgates to more research in this area.

發表這項研究會**打開閘門**，引發更多該領域的研究。

Careful—making one exception could open the floodgates for everyone else.

小心——破一次例可能就會**打開閘門**，讓大家都來要求。