PhrasesHub

Lead balloon - Go down like a

    Definitions

      • fail miserably
        To describe something that is not well received or not successful

    Examples of Lead balloon - Go down like a

    • "The comedian's new material bombed at the sold-out show. It was a lead balloon."

      In this example, "lead balloon" is used as a metaphor to describe something that's failed miserably. The comedian's performance, which was anticipated to be successful, fell flat and was as unsuccessful as a balloon filled with lead.

    • "The CEO's plan to introduce a new product was met with resistance from the board. It went down like a lead balloon."

      Here, "lead balloon" is used to describe a proposal or idea that has been rejected or criticized heavily. The CEO's plan, which was supposed to be well-received by the board, was received negatively, similar to how a balloon filled with lead sinks downwards.

    • "The politician's speech at the rally was lackluster. It ended like a lead balloon."

      In this context, "lead balloon" signifies an underwhelming conclusion to an event or performance. The politician's speech lost momentum, and the audience's interest dwindled, leading to a dull and unmemorable ending.

    • "The director's latest movie bombed at the box office. It went down like a lead balloon."

      Lastly, "lead balloon" refers to something that has failed miserably and heavily disappointed people. The director's movie, which was highly-anticipated by the audience, flopped at the box office, much like a balloon filled with lead.

    • The new product launch failed miserably, it was a lead balloon.

      In this example, the phrase "a lead balloon" is being used as an idiom to describe something that fails or falls short of expectations. In this case, the product launch did not receive the desired response or reception, so it is being compared to a lead balloon because balloons filled with lead would sink instead of float, symbolizing the idea that the product launch went down or failed.

    • The comedian's new material didn't go over well with the audience, it went down like a lead balloon.

      In this example, the phrase "went down like a lead balloon" is being used as an idiom to describe something that receives a negative or unfavorable response. In this case, the comedian's new material didn't gain the expected laughter or positive feedback from the audience, so it's being compared to a lead balloon because balloons filled with lead would sink instead of float, symbolizing the idea that the comedian's new material failed to entertain the audience.

    • The news reporter's interview with the politician was a lead balloon.

      In this example, the phrase "a lead balloon" is being used as an idiom to describe something that falls short of expectations or is unsuccessful. In this case, the interview with the politician did not generate the desired level of engagement or interest, so it's being compared to a lead balloon because balloons filled with lead would sink instead of float, symbolizing the idea that the interview with the politician did not get off the ground or generate any real interest.

    • The stuntman's latest episode of his TV show was a lead balloon.

      In this example, the phrase "a lead balloon" is being used as an idiom to describe something that falls short of expectations or is unpopular. In this case, the latest episode of the stuntman's TV show did not receive the expected ratings or viewership, so it's being compared to a lead balloon because balloons filled with lead would sink instead of float, symbolizing the idea that the latest episode of the stuntman's TV show did not capture the interest of viewers.


    Conclusion

    The idiom "go down like a lead balloon" is used to express that something has failed or been poorly received. It is often used in informal conversations and writing to convey a strong sense of failure or lack of success.

    It can be used in a variety of contexts, such as referring to a joke that falls flat, a business idea that is not well received, or a performance that is not successful. The idiom is a colorful and expressive way to convey the idea of something not being well received or failing.

    Origin of "Lead balloon - Go down like a"

    The origin of the idiom "go down like a lead balloon" is believed to stem from the use of lead as a heavy and dense material. Lead balloons would be unable to float in the air, and thus would fail to rise or be successful in any way. The use of "lead balloon" to describe something that fails or is not successful likely originated in the early to mid-20th century and has since become a widely used and understood idiom in the English language.