英语释义
1. a gate for shutting out, admitting, or releasing a body of water sluice
2. something serving to restrain an outburst
opened the floodgates of criticism
3. a gate for controlling the flow of water from a lake, river, reservoir, etc.
4. something serving to restrain an outburst (as of litigation) —usually used in pl.
a decision that will open the floodgates for other claims