What is the origin of the idiom "open the floodgates" and when to use it?

The idiom "open the floodgates" originated from the literal act of opening the gates of a dam or reservoir to release a large volume of water rapidly. In its figurative sense, it is used to imply that an action or decision allows for many possibilities, particularly those that were previously unavailable, much like a sudden, uncontrolled flow of water.