balloon (redirected from balloonist)

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: lead, like

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: 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: trial

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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: lead, like

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, up