the balloon goes up

The situation becomes serious, critical, chaotic, or troublesome. Often used in the past tense ("the balloon went up"). If we don't get that shipment by Friday, the balloon goes up, and we lose the account. He tweeted it, and the balloon went up.

balloon goes up, the

The undertaking begins, as in He's going to announce his candidacy for mayor-the balloon goes up on Monday. This expression comes from World War I, when British artillery sent up a balloon to notify gunners to open fire, this visual signal being more reliable than courier or telephone. It was soon transferred to signal other kinds of beginning. [1915]

the balloon goes up

mainly BRITISH

If the balloon goes up, something happens that causes a situation suddenly to become very serious. On the Saturday the balloon went up. Henry said he would be going out and not returning until the Sunday afternoon. Sara told him to take all his things and not to return at all. On the line was his solicitor warning that the balloon was about to go up. Note: In the First World War, balloons were used both to protect targets from air attacks, and to observe the enemy. The fact that a balloon had gone up therefore indicated that trouble was coming.

词组	the balloon goes up
释义	the balloon goes up the balloon goes up The situation becomes serious, critical, chaotic, or troublesome. Often used in the past tense ("the balloon went up"). If we don't get that shipment by Friday, the balloon goes up, and we lose the account. He tweeted it, and the balloon went up. See also: balloon, goes, up Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. balloon goes up, the The undertaking begins, as in He's going to announce his candidacy for mayor-the balloon goes up on Monday. This expression comes from World War I, when British artillery sent up a balloon to notify gunners to open fire, this visual signal being more reliable than courier or telephone. It was soon transferred to signal other kinds of beginning. [1915] See also: balloon, goes The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. the balloon goes up mainly BRITISH If the balloon goes up, something happens that causes a situation suddenly to become very serious. On the Saturday the balloon went up. Henry said he would be going out and not returning until the Sunday afternoon. Sara told him to take all his things and not to return at all. On the line was his solicitor warning that the balloon was about to go up. Note: In the First World War, balloons were used both to protect targets from air attacks, and to observe the enemy. The fact that a balloon had gone up therefore indicated that trouble was coming. See also: balloon, goes, up Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. See also: balloon goes up, the before the balloon goes up accident waiting to happen, an an accident waiting to happen an accident/a disaster waiting to happen come to such a pass come to a pretty pass twist in the wind twist in the wind, be left to twist slowly in the wind
随便看	place (someone or something) in (someone's) care place (someone or something) in the care of (someone) place (someone or something) in the charge of (someone) place (someone or something) next to (someone or something else) place (someone or something) under (someone's) care play by (one's) rules play-by-play (description) play-by-play description play by somebody's rules play by the rules play cards play cards close to chest play cards right play cat and mouse play cat and mouse with play catch-up play Cupid play dead play devil's advocate play dirty play down play down to play down to (someone) play ducks and drakes with play ducks and drakes with (one)