the balloon goes up

the balloon goes up

The situation becomes serious, critical, chaotic, or troublesome. Often used in the past tense ("the balloon went up"). If we don't get that shipment by Friday, the balloon goes up, and we lose the account. He tweeted it, and the balloon went up.See also: balloon, goes, up

balloon goes up, the

The undertaking begins, as in He's going to announce his candidacy for mayor-the balloon goes up on Monday. This expression comes from World War I, when British artillery sent up a balloon to notify gunners to open fire, this visual signal being more reliable than courier or telephone. It was soon transferred to signal other kinds of beginning. [1915] See also: balloon, goes

the balloon goes up

mainly BRITISHIf the balloon goes up, something happens that causes a situation suddenly to become very serious. On the Saturday the balloon went up. Henry said he would be going out and not returning until the Sunday afternoon. Sara told him to take all his things and not to return at all. On the line was his solicitor warning that the balloon was about to go up. Note: In the First World War, balloons were used both to protect targets from air attacks, and to observe the enemy. The fact that a balloon had gone up therefore indicated that trouble was coming. See also: balloon, goes, up