what is a lead balloon

A lead balloon is a metaphorical term used to describe something that is a total failure or is poorly received by an audience. The phrase "go down like a lead balloon" is often used to describe something that is not well-liked or is unsuccessful. The origin of the phrase is American, and the first mention of a lead balloon with the meaning of something that fails comes from a Mom-N Pop cartoon. The term is especially used of suggestions, jokes, and other forms of communication that do not resonate with the intended audience. The phrase has become a popular idiom and is often used in everyday conversation to describe something that has failed to meet expectations.