lead balloon

English

Etymology

From go down like a lead balloon and similar expressions.

Noun

lead balloon (plural lead balloons)

  1. A failure, especially something that fails to have the intended resonance with an audience.
    • 2019 November 17, Robert Robb, “Trump wants Republicans to defend him. But it's hard to defend the indefensible”, in The Arizona Republic‎[1]:
      After the collusion story proved a bust, there was an attempt to blow some life into the obstruction of justice charge. But that was a lead balloon with the American people.
    • 2025 May 3, @itazurakko999, X‎[2]:
      He does it because it establishes the primary deniability of "I was just trolling" when his lead balloons fail to go over
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