balloon

the balloon goes up

if the balloon goes up, a situation suddenly becomes very serious or unpleasant. The balloon went up last Friday when the scandal became public.

See also: goes

go down like a lead balloon (humorous)

if something that you say or show to people goes down like a lead balloon, they do not like it at all. My joke about the alcoholic went down like a lead balloon.

See also: down, lead, like