Going Down Like A Lead Balloon

[Booldawg]

I've never quite got the grasp of that saying.

When used in something going well you could say 'It went down like a lead balloon' that's means its successful right?

But when you use it in a negative context, like giving someone bad news eg; 'I had to make someone redundant today - it went down like a lead balloon' that surely indicates something unsuccessful?

[jno]

it's probably best used of something like a message that you want to "get over", pasta?

[Jackdaw33]

I suppose they mean the same thing as a lead balloon cannot go 'over' it can only go down.

[Peter Pedant]

always negative Booldawg

Someone may in the past have used it in an ironic sense - playful context
"I fired someone today and he looked really pleased to be given his marching orders...." but that in honesty could mean anything depending on context after being fired which is not in doubt

happens a lot to me at DWP:
Me are you in charge ?
X - no
Me ..... is anyone in charge ?
X - No

and frequently it turns out the real answer was "YES!"
gotta a real sense of humour down there I can tell you