What is the origin of the phrase "When the balloon goes up"?
Question #68353. Asked by davejacobs.
Last updated Aug 28 2016.
Analiafc
Answer has 3 votes
Analiafc
Answer has 3 votes.
The phrase comes from World War I;british artillery sent up a baloon advicing to open fire.
From: Answers.com
Jul 17 2006, 11:10 AM
zbeckabee
Answer has 4 votes
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zbeckabee Moderator 19 year member
11752 replies
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Balloon: When the balloon goes up is a phrase used to imply impending trouble. This relates to the use of observation balloons in the first World War. The sight of such a balloon going up nearly always resulted in a barrage of shells following soon after. The expression was re-inforced during WW2 when the hoisting of barrage balloons was part of the preparations for an air raid.
http://www.nytimes.com/1991/02/03/magazine/on-language-balloon-goes-up-on-war-words.html