balloon goes up
phraseUK /bəˌluːn ɡəʊ̯z ˈʌp/ · CA, US /bəˌlun ɡoʊ̯z ˈʌp/
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.
1
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.
2
Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see balloon, go, up.
- Related terms
- when the balloon goes up, trial balloon