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lead balloon

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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