Meaning of lead balloon | Babel Free

Definitions

A failure, especially something that fails to have the intended resonance with an audience.

Examples

“After the collusion story proved a bust, there was an attempt to blow some life into the obstruction of justice charge. But that was a lead balloon with the American people.”

“He does it because it establishes the primary deniability of "I was just trolling" when his lead balloons fail to go over”

CEFR level