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open the door to

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open the door to someone

 

1. Lit. to permit someone to enter a room, building, etc. The butler opened the door to the guests and they all entered. I opened the door to Mr. Wilson.

2. to make a move or passage easier for a person. Ann opened the door to Fred, who wanted to start a new career in writing. Mark opened the door to her, and she was always grateful to him.

See also: door, open

open the door to something

Fig. to invite something to happen. The armistice opened the door to peace talks. The door was opened to further discussion.

See also: door, open

open the door to something

to allow something to happen The meeting opened the door to real peace talks between the two sides.

Related vocabulary: open doors (to somebody/something)

See also: door, open

open the door to something

to allow something new to start The ceasefire opens the door to talks between the two sides. A new kind of fat-free fat could open the door to a revolution in snack foods.

See also: door, open

open the door to

Also, open doors. Create an opportunity for, as in Legalizing marijuana may open the door to all kinds of abuse, or Her statement opened the door to further discussion, or Dad's connections at the hospital have opened doors for Richard's colleagues at medical school . [Late 1600s]

See also: door, open