开闸 (kāi zhá) — to open a sluice gate; (figurative) to release a large amount; to lift restrictions, allowing a surge

Definition

Examples

• 水库管理人员正在开闸放水。
  Shuǐ kù guǎn lǐ rén yuán zhèng zài kāi zhá fàng shuǐ.
  The reservoir staff are opening the sluice gate to release water.
• 政府一开闸，大量资金涌入了市场。
  Zhèng fǔ yì kāi zhá, dà liàng zī jīn yǒng rù le shì chǎng.
  Once the government opened the floodgates, a large amount of capital poured into the market.
• 这个项目等了三年，终于开了闸。
  Zhè ge xiàng mù děng le sān nián, zhōng yú kāi le zhá.
  This project waited three years and finally got the green light (lit. opened the gate).