floodgates

The engineers opened the floodgates to release excess water from the dam.

(Chinese) 工程师们打开了防洪闸门，以排放大坝中多余的水。

Once the scandal broke, it opened the floodgates for hundreds of other complaints.

(Chinese) 丑闻一旦曝光，就引发了成百上千起其他的投诉。