# The origin of the phrase "When the balloon goes up"

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-origin-of-the-phrase-when-the-balloon-goes-up/119407>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [July 17, 2002, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-origin-of-the-phrase-when-the-balloon-goes-up/119407 "2002-07-17T13:56:35Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![SirRay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@SirRay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SirRay)\
**Post date:** [July 17, 2002, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-origin-of-the-phrase-when-the-balloon-goes-up/119407/1 "2002-07-17T13:56:35Z")

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I have heard this phrase in stories and on TV, usually in a context implying the start of war or revolution (or just all hell breaking loose).  
Anyone have a handle on it’s origin?

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**Author:** ![Exgineer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a88e4f/32.png) [@Exgineer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exgineer)\
**Post date:** [July 17, 2002, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-origin-of-the-phrase-when-the-balloon-goes-up/119407/2 "2002-07-17T14:34:26Z")

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I can’t really verify this, but I was told it goes back to the time when hot-air balloons were used as military obsevation platforms (fitted with a telegraph, or semaphore).

When the balloon goes up, the battle is about to start.

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**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\
**Post date:** [July 17, 2002, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-origin-of-the-phrase-when-the-balloon-goes-up/119407/3 "2002-07-17T15:02:49Z")

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_Cassell’s Dictionary of Slang_ makes the same guess **Exgineer** does:

> [@](#):
>
> [1910s] (orig. milit.) the start of proceedings, esp. when there is a potential for controversy or argument. [? raising of an observation _balloon_ immediately before an attack]