go over like a lead balloon

• go down like a lead balloon

Presumably from go over (“to be received”), used as if literally (“to travel above”): a lead balloon would not travel well through the air.

go over like a lead balloon (third-person singular simple present goes over like a lead balloon, present participle going over like a lead balloon, simple past went over like a lead balloon, past participle gone over like a lead balloon)

1. (simile) To fail to gain acceptance: to be received poorly.

• go down like a cup of cold sick

• fly with leaden wings

• sink like a stone