Definition
This idiom describes a situation that suddenly becomes very serious or unpleasant.
形勢突變，情境嚴峻
The situation turned chaotic after the scandal became public last Friday.
上週五醜聞公開後，情況變得混亂。
If the negotiations break down, the balloon could go up very quickly.
如果談判破裂，情勢可能會迅速惡化。
When the company announced the layoffs, the balloon really went up.
當公司宣布裁員時，情勢真的變得非常嚴峻。