if the balloon goes up, a situation suddenly becomes very serious or unpleasant.

The balloon went up last Friday when the scandal became public.

• put-up job
• put up or shut up
• put words in mouth
• put words in someone's mouth
• put words into mouth
• put words into someone's mouth
• put years on
• put years on someone
• put you in place
• put you in your place
• put your back into
• put your back into something
• put your best foot forward
• put your cards on the table
• put your feet up
• put your finger on
• put your finger on something
• put your foot down
• put your foot in it
• put your foot to the floor
• put your hand in pocket
• put your hand in your pocket
• put your hand on heart
• put your hand on your heart
• put your head above the parapet