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balloon

See: TRIAL BALLOON, LEAD BALLOON.

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Source: A Dictionary of American Idioms

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go over like a lead balloon

[go over like a lead balloon] {v. phr.}, {informal} To fail to generate a positive response or enthusiasm; to meet with boredom or disapproval. * /The president's suggested budget cuts […] A Dictionary of American Idioms

trial balloon

[trial balloon] {n.} A hint about a plan of action that is given out to find out what people will say. * /John mentioned the class presidency to Bill as […] A Dictionary of American Idioms

misfire

[misfire] {v.} To fail to appeal; fall flat. * /The standup comic's jokes misfired with the audience./ Compare: [GO OVER LIKE A LEAD BALLOON]. A Dictionary of American Idioms

how's that

[how's that] {informal} What did you say? Will you please repeat that? * /"I've just been up in a balloon for a day and a half." "How's that?"/ * /"The […] A Dictionary of American Idioms

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An idiom is

an expression "whose meaning is not predictable from the usual meanings of its constituent elements… or from the general grammatical rules of a language"

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