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]
Words nearby balloon goes up, the
balloon angioplasty,
balloon barrage,
balloon chuck,
balloon clock,
balloon frame,
balloon goes up, the,
balloon loan,
balloon payment,
balloon sail,
balloon shade,
balloon sleeve