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Go down like a lead balloon

Go down like a lead balloon

Meaning

Be received badly.

Examples

The headmaster’s idea that all the students spend their lunch hour collecting litter went down like a lead balloon.

Where did it originate?

USA, mid 20th century.

Where is it used?

Worldwide.

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How the idiom originated

  • How did the idiom “Go down like a lead balloon” originate?

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About the Author

Gary Martin is a writer and researcher on the origins of phrases and the creator of the Phrase Finder website. Over the past 26 years more than 700 million of his pages have been downloaded by readers. He is one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on phrases and idioms.

Gary Martin

Writer and researcher on the origins of phrases and the creator of the Phrase Finder website. Over the past 26 years more than 700 million of his pages have been downloaded by readers. He is one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on phrases and idioms.
Go down like a lead balloon

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