balloon

lead balloon

An utter failure and/or something that causes displeasure. Often heard in the phrase "go over like a lead balloon." A: "How do you think everyone will react to the lack of bonuses this year?" B: "Oh, that news will go over like a lead balloon!" I thought I'd finally had a breakthrough with my latest invention, but it turned out to be a lead balloon, like all the others.See also: balloon, lead

go down like a lead balloon

To become an utter failure and/or something that causes displeasure. A: "How do you think everyone will react to the lack of bonuses this year?" B: "Oh, that news will go down like a lead balloon!"See also: balloon, down, go, lead, like

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

go over

1. To visit some place. I'm going over to Eddie's house, Mom—see you later!2. To review something. Can you go over these instructions again? I'm still a little confused.3. To generate a particular reaction; to be received in some way. Unfortunately, our proposal did not go over well with the board, and I doubt they'll approve it.4. To inspect someone or something thoroughly. We need to go over every inch of this house to find my engagement ring!5. To rehearse or practice something. We need to go over our lines before we take the stage.See also: go, over

float a trial balloon

To propose something in order to get feedback on it. The phrase alludes to the former use of balloons to get information about the weather. When everyone objected to my idea, I reassured them that I was just floating a trial balloon and had not made any sort of decision on the matter.See also: balloon, float, trial

when the balloon goes up

When the situation becomes serious, critical, chaotic, or troublesome. Our analysts have been predicting a market crash for months now. If we don't get diversify our assets soon, we're going to be in serious trouble when the balloon goes up. My parents' relationship has been on the rocks for years. I just hope I'm out of the house when the balloon goes up.See also: balloon, goes, up

before the balloon goes up

Before the situation becomes serious, critical, chaotic, or troublesome. Our analysts have been predicting a market crash for months now. If we don't get diversify our assets soon before the balloon goes up, we're going to be in serious trouble. My parents' relationship has been on the rocks for years. I just hope I'm out of the house before the balloon goes up.See also: balloon, before, goes, up

send up

1. verb To cause something to rise, as into the air. A noun or pronoun can be used between "send" and "up." The erupting volcano sent up huge plumes of steam, ash, and smoke. Everyone at the party sent their balloons up at the same instant, creating a dazzling effect on the summer sky.2. verb To cause, compel, instruct, or direct someone or something to travel to some high location or level. A noun or pronoun can be used between "send" and "up." Hi Mrs. Jenkins, I understand you're having some issues with your air conditioner. I just wanted to let you know that I'm sending up an engineer this afternoon. Would you please send some refreshments up to the meeting room upstairs?3. verb To parody, tease, ridicule, or satirize someone or something. A noun or pronoun can be used between "send" and "up." While the movie is obviously sending up the clichés of the genre, it doesn't do anything to meaningfully subvert them or even comment on them. The comedian has sent up every president from the past 30 years with surprisingly accurate impressions.4. noun A parody or satire of something. Usually hyphenated or spelled as one word. While the movie is obviously a send-up of the genre, it doesn't do anything to meaningfully subvert it or even comment on it.See also: send, up

trial balloon

A preliminary or tentative execution of a plan or idea in order to gauge the interest or approval of someone else, especially the public. We introduced the recipe for our soda in certain parts of the country as a trial balloon, but the response was overwhelmingly negative, so we scrapped the planned revision.See also: balloon, trial

balloon knot

slang The anus. That bout of diarrhea wreaked havoc on my balloon knot, I'll tell you that much.See also: balloon, knot

balloons

vulgar slang Breasts, especially particularly large ones. Yeah, but her balloons never used to be that big. Did she get a boob job or something?See also: balloon

send up a trial balloon

To suggest something in order to get feedback on it or gauge how people respond to it. The phrase alludes to the now outdated use of balloons to get information about the weather. When everyone objected to my idea, I reassured them that I was just sending up a trial balloon and had not made any sort of decision on the matter. We've been sending up trial balloons of our various ideas for new products, and so far the consumer responses have been fantastic.See also: balloon, send, trial, up

go over like a lead balloon

To become an utter failure and/or something that causes displeasure. A: "How do you think everyone will react to the lack of bonuses this year?" B: "Oh, that news will go over like a lead balloon!"See also: balloon, go, lead, like, over

go over

Euph. to leave one's country and go to ideologically opposed or enemy country; to defect. When the ballet company visited New York, two of the dancers went over. He had been spying for the Americans for many years, and he finally went over.See also: go, over

go over like a lead balloon

Fig. to fail completely; to go over badly. Your joke went over like a lead balloon. If that play was supposed to be a comedy, it went over like a lead balloon. Her suggestion went over like a lead balloon.See also: balloon, go, lead, like, over

go over someone or something

to examine someone or something. The doctor will go over you very carefully, I'm sure. I went over the papers and found nothing wrong.See also: go, over

go over something (with someone)

to review or explain something. The teacher went over the lesson with the class. Can you please go over it again, more slowly?See also: go, over

go over (to some place)

to travel some distance or cross water to get to some place. We went over to Cedar Point and spent the day having fun. John went over to the other side of the stadium for the rest of the tournament.See also: go, over

go over (well)

[for someone or something] to be accepted or well received. The party went over very well. The play really went over with the audience.See also: go, over

send someone or something up

1. Lit. to order someone to go upward to a higher level; to arrange for something to be taken upward to a higher level. I'll send up Gary. They are hungry on the tenth floor. Let's send some sandwiches up. 2. Fig. to parody or ridicule someone or something. Comedians love to send the president or some other famous person up. The comedian sent up the vice president.See also: send, up

send someone up

Fig. to mock or ridicule, particularly by imitation. Last week, he sent the prime minister up. In his act, he sends up famous people.See also: send, up

send up a trial balloon

to suggest something and see how people respond to it; to test public opinion. Mary had an excellent idea, but when we sent up a trial balloon, the response was very negative. Don't start the whole project without sending up a trial balloon.See also: balloon, send, trial, up

trial balloon

a test of someone's or the public's reaction. It was just a trial balloon, and it didn't work. The trial balloon was a great success.See also: balloon, trial

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

go over

1. Examine, review. For example, They went over the contract with great care, or I think we should go over the whole business again. This term originated in the late 1500s, then meaning "consider in sequence." 2. Gain acceptance or approval, succeed, as in I hope the play goes over. This term is sometimes elaborated to go over big or go over with a bang for a big success, and go over like a lead balloon for a dismal failure. [Early 1900s] 3. Rehearse, as in Let's go over these lines one more time. [Second half of 1700s] See also: go, over

send up

1. Put in prison, as in He'll be sent up for at least ten years. [Mid-1800s] 2. Cause to rise, as in The emissions sent up by that factory are clearly poisonous. [Late 1500s] 3. Satirize, make a parody of, as in This playwright has a genius for sending up suburban life. [First half of 1900s] 4. send up a trial balloon. See trial balloon. See also: send, up

trial balloon

An idea or plan advanced tentatively to test public reaction, as in Let's send up a trial balloon for this new program before we commit ourselves. This expression alludes to sending up balloons to test weather conditions. [c. 1930] See also: balloon, trial

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

go down like a lead balloon

If something goes down like a lead balloon, people do not like it at all. Note: Lead is a very heavy metal. A senior source said the memo had gone down like a lead balloon. His transfer from Brentford football club went down like a lead balloon with fans. Note: You can call something that is unsuccessful or unpopular a a lead balloon. Truman knew that this cause was a lead balloon at the UN.See also: balloon, down, go, lead, like

float a trial balloon

mainly AMERICANCOMMON If someone floats a trial balloon they suggest an idea or plan in order to see what people think about it. The administration has not officially released any details of the president's economic plan, although numerous trial balloons have been floated. Note: Other verbs can be used instead of float. Weeks ago, the Tories were flying a trial balloon about banning teacher strikes. Note: You can call an idea or suggestion that is made to test public opinion a trial balloon. The idea is nothing more than a trial balloon at this point. Note: Balloons were formerly used to find out about weather conditions. See also: balloon, float, trial

when (or before) the balloon goes up

when (or before) the action or trouble starts. informal The balloon alluded to is probably one released to mark the start of an event. 1959 Punch The international rules of war are apt to be waived when the balloon goes up. See also: balloon, goes, up

go down (or over) like a lead balloon

(especially of a speech, proposal, or joke) fail; be a flop. informal 1996 Prospect Simon Jenkins's book, Accountable to None , has gone down like a lead balloon with most Conservative reviewers. See also: balloon, down, go, lead, like

when the balˈloon goes up

(informal) when the trouble or important event begins: I don’t want to be there when the balloon goes up.See also: balloon, goes, up

go ˌdown like a lead balˈloon

(informal) be very unsuccessful; not be accepted by people: As you can imagine, the new proposals went down like a lead balloon, so we’ll have to think again. OPPOSITE: go down a bomb Lead is a heavy soft grey metal (symbol = Pb).See also: balloon, down, go, lead, like

go over

v.1. To go to a place: Let's go over to the store and buy a snack. My friend was feeling lonely, so I went over and cheered him up.2. To examine or review something: We'll go over last week's lesson before we start a new one.3. To search something thoroughly: I went over my entire room, but I couldn't find my wallet.4. To perform an action on the entire surface of something: The table still looked dusty, so I went over it with a damp cloth.5. To gain acceptance or garner a reaction or opinions: The new movie went over superbly. I think your criticism went over well.6. go over with To gain acceptance or garner a reaction or opinions from someone: We weren't sure if our play would go over with the critics. Our comments went over badly with the press.See also: go, over

send up

v.1. To send someone to jail: They sent the crook up for ten years. The cops busted the gang and sent up the leader.2. To make a parody of someone or something: The comedian sends up contemporary culture. I'm not afraid to send myself up to make people laugh.See also: send, up

balloon knot

n. the anus (From its appearance.) Yeeeouch! Right in the balloon knot! See also: balloon, knot

balloons

n. a woman’s breasts, especially large ones. (Usually objectionable.) What fine balloons on Jim’s girl! See also: balloon

go over like a lead balloon

in. [for something meant to be good] to fail to be good. (see also go over big.) I’m afraid your plan went over like a lead balloon. See also: balloon, go, lead, like, over

trial balloon

n. a test of someone’s reaction. It was just a trial balloon, and it didn’t work. See also: balloon, trial

lead balloon, go over like a

Utterly fail. The analogy is to a lighter-than-air vehicle made of a heavy metal, forcing it to sink. The term dates from about 1950. The Los Angeles Times had it, “ ‘Malcolm Arnold’s ‘Grand, Grand Overture’ for vacuum cleaners went over like, ah, a lead balloon” (August 27, 1983).See also: go, lead, like, over

when the balloon goes up

When some activity or enterprise begins. This expression dates from World War I, when the British artillery would send up a balloon to signal gunners along the line to begin firing. In time the term was extended to any undertaking, such as the opening of a store, the time a court session begins, and so on. John Braine used it in his novel Room at the Top (1957): “Merely because I let you give me a beery kiss in the Props Room, you think the balloon’s going up.” The term may be dying out, however, at least on this side of the Atlantic.See also: balloon, goes, up

balloon

balloon,

lighter-than-air craft without a propulsion system, lifted by inflation of one or more containers with a gas lighter than air or with heated air. During flight, altitude may be gained by discarding ballast (e.g., bags of sand) and may be lost by releasing some of the lifting gas from its container. Balloons designed for crews are used mainly for recreation, research, and adventuring; uncrewed balloons are used primarily for scientific research or surveillance.

Although interest in such a craft dates from the 13th cent., the balloon was not actually invented until the late 18th cent., when two French brothers, Joseph and Jacques Étienne MontgolfierMontgolfier, Joseph Michel
, 1740–1810, and Jacques Étienne Montgolfier
, 1745–99, French inventors, brothers. Together they invented the first practical balloon.
..... Click the link for more information. , experimented with inverted paper and cloth bags filled with heated air and, in 1783, caused a linen bag about 100 ft (30 m) in diameter to rise in the air. In the same year the Frenchmen Pilâtre de Rozier and the marquis d'Arlandes made one of the first balloon ascents by human beings, rising in a hot-air-filled captive balloon (i.e., one made fast by a mooring cable to prevent free flight) to a height of 84 ft (26 m).

In 1766 the English scientist Henry CavendishCavendish, Henry,
1731–1810, English physicist and chemist, b. Nice. He was the son of Lord Charles Cavendish and grandson of the 2d duke of Devonshire. He was a recluse, and most of his writings were published posthumously.
..... Click the link for more information. had shown that hydrogen was seven times lighter than air, and the usefulness of this gas in balloon ascension was demonstrated in Dec., 1783, by J. A. C. CharlesCharles, Jacques Alexandre César
, 1746–1823, French physicist. He confirmed Benjamin Franklin's electrical experiments, became interested in aeronautics, and was the first to use hydrogen gas in balloons.
..... Click the link for more information. of France, who with his associates successfully ascended in a hydrogen-filled balloon and traveled 27 mi (43 km) from their starting point. Later, Charles made the first solo balloon ascent. Pilâtre de Rozier developed a balloon with two gas bags, one above containing hydrogen and one below for hot air, but his attempt to fly (1785) one across the English Channel ended in death when the highly flammable hydrogen ignited. Modern Rozier balloons use helium instead of hydrogen.

The first ascent in England was made by James Tytler, a Scottish writer, in 1784, and in 1793 the French balloonist J. P. BlanchardBlanchard, Jean Pierre
, or François Blanchard
, 1753–1809, French balloonist. In 1785 he made with Dr. John Jeffries of Boston, Mass., the first crossing by air of the English Channel.
..... Click the link for more information. made an ascent at Philadelphia. Blanchard, with Dr. John Jeffries, an American physician, also made the first sea voyage by balloon, crossing the English Channel in 1784. Among the noted balloon voyages of the 19th cent. was that made by the Swedish engineer S. A. AndréeAndrée, Salomon August
, 1854–97, Swedish polar explorer, grad. Royal Inst. of Technology, Stockholm. An aeronautical engineer and head of the Swedish patent office's technical department, he was the first to attempt arctic exploration by air.
..... Click the link for more information. , who, in 1897, attempted unsuccessfully to reach the North Pole by balloon; his remains were discovered 33 years later. The helplessness of the free balloon in controlling direction led to the development of the dirigible balloon (see airshipairship,
an aircraft that consists of a cigar-shaped gas bag, or envelope, filled with a lighter-than-air gas to provide lift, a propulsion system, a steering mechanism, and a gondola accommodating passengers, crew, and cargo.
..... Click the link for more information. ).

In the American Civil War and World War I, captive crewed balloons were used to observe troop movements and to direct gunfire. Captive, uncrewed blimplike balloons called barrage balloons were used as obstacles against low-flying aircraft in World War II, and similar tethered balloons, sometimes called aerostats, are outfitted with radar, cameras, and other instruments for use in surveillance. Today high-altitude balloons (typically filled with hydrogen) carry aloft radios and other instruments, used to transmit meteorological readings or to take photographs free from atmospheric distortion.

In 1932 the Swiss physicist Auguste PiccardPiccard, Auguste
, 1884–1962, Swiss physicist, b. Basel. He became a professor at the Univ. of Brussels in 1922. He and his twin brother Jean Felix (d. 1963) are known for their balloon ascents into the stratosphere; in Aug., 1932, Auguste ascended to 55,500 ft (16,916 m).
..... Click the link for more information. , one of the major figures in 20th-century ballooning, ascended in a balloon with a sealed spherical gondola to a height of 55,500 ft (17,000 m); since then manned balloons have reached heights of 100,000 ft (30,500 m) and unmanned balloons have exceeded 140,000 ft (42,500 m). The Americans Ben Abruzzo, Maxie Anderson, and Larry Newman made the first transatlantic crossing in 1978, and in 1981 Abruzzo, Newman, Rocky Aoki, and Ron Clark crossed the Pacific. In 1999, Bertrand Piccard, Auguste's grandson, and Briton Brian JonesJones, Brian,
1947–, British balloonist, b. Bristol. A former Royal Air Force pilot, he entered the world of ballooning in the 1980s, and in 1997 became an organizer for the attempt of the British-built, Swiss-sponsored Breitling Orbiter 3
..... Click the link for more information. made the first nonstop balloon flight around the world; the American Steve FossettFossett, Steve
(James Stephen Fossett), 1944–2007, American investment banker and adventurer, b. California. After becoming a multimillionaire as a stockbroker and investment consultant, he began a second career as a sports adventurer.
..... Click the link for more information. completed the first nonstop solo circumnavigation in 2002.

In contemporary sporting balloons, which use air heated by a small gas-fired burner, altitude is controlled by varying the temperature of the heated air. Gas bags made with space-age materials are more durable and weigh far less than the traditional silk; heaters have similarly become more efficient. While ballooning remains dangerous, the hot-air balloon's slow response time offers a unique sensation of effortless motion through the atmosphere.

Bibliography

See A. Hildebrandt, Balloons and Airships (1976); J. P. Jackson and R. J. Dichtl, The Science and Art of Hot Air Ballooning (1977); B. Piccard and B. Jones, Around the World in 20 Days (1999); R. Holmes, Falling Upward: How We Took to the Air (2013).

What does it mean when you dream about a balloon?

Balloons are often used to celebrate someone or something. In dreams they sometimes also represent the freeing and releasing of feelings or creative ideas, while the strings keep them from flying away. A deflated balloon may indicate disappointment.

balloon

[bə′lün] (aerospace engineering) A nonporous, flexible spherical bag, inflated with a gas such as helium that is lighter than air, so that it will rise and float in the atmosphere; a large-capacity balloon can be used to lift a payload suspended from it.

balloon

A globe or round ball, placed on the top of a pillar, pediment, pier, or the like, which serves as a crown, 1.

balloon

An unpowered aircraft constructed from a flexible nonporous bag inflated normally with helium or any other light gas or heated air. Usually equipped with a basket or suspended gondola. See balloon classification.

balloon

1. a large impermeable bag inflated with a lighter-than-air gas, designed to rise and float in the atmosphere. It may have a basket or gondola for carrying passengers, etc 2. Chem a round-bottomed flask 3. Surgerya. an inflatable plastic tube used for dilating obstructed blood vessels or parts of the alimentary canal b. (as modifier): balloon angioplasty
www.fai.org/ballooning

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go over someone or something

go over something (with someone)

go over (to some place)

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go over

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trial balloon

the balloon goes up

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float a trial balloon

when (or before) the balloon goes up

go down (or over) like a lead balloon

when the balˈloon goes up

go ˌdown like a lead balˈloon

go over

send up

balloon knot

balloons

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trial balloon

lead balloon, go over like a

when the balloon goes up

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Bibliography

What does it mean when you dream about a balloon?

balloon

balloon

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balloon

bal·loon

balloon

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bal·loon

bal·loon

Balloon

Balloon Loan

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balloon

Synonyms for balloon

noun airship

Synonyms

verb expand

Synonyms

Synonyms for balloon

verb to curve outward past the normal or usual limit

Synonyms

Synonyms for balloon

noun large tough nonrigid bag filled with gas or heated air