balloon goes up en · X
Pronunciation
- bə-lo͞on′ gōz ŭp′
- /bəˌlʉn ɡoz ˈʌp/ (Scotland)
- /baˌluːn ɡoːz ˈəp/ (India)
- /bəˌlun ɡoʊ̯z ˈʌp/ (Canada, General-American)
- /bəˌlʉːn ɡɐʉ̯z ˈɐp/ (New-Zealand)
- /bəˌlʉːn ɡəʉ̯z ˈɐp/ (Australia)
- audio AuE
- /bəˌluːn ɡəʊ̯z ˈʌp/ (Received-Pronunciation)
Etymology
Probably from the releasing of a balloon as a signal for an event to begin, possibly popularized by the use of balloons by the British Army during World War I (1914–1918) as a signal for artillery fire to commence.
Meanings
-
(idiomatic) Something exciting, risky, or troublesome begins.
— When is your job interview? — The balloon goes up at 10 tomorrow.
For quotations using this term, see Citations:balloon goes up.
- Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see balloon, go, up.
Relateds
when the balloon goes up · trial balloon
Translations (1)
fi h-hetki on (something exciting, risky, or troublesome begins)