trial balloon
[noun]
Synonyms: feeler

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Related Words: trial

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

ˈtrial balˌloon noun [countable]
something that you do or say in order to see whether other people will accept something or not:
Senator Lott is floating trial balloons to test public opinion on the bill.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

trial balloon
an announcement or experiment with the purpose of finding out what people think about an idea or product
We sent up a trial balloon to see who would support our plan to introduce the new product.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

trial balloon
n. A hint about a plan of action that is given out to find out what people will say.
John mentioned the class presidency to Bill as a trial balloon to see if Bill might be interested in running.
The editorial was a trial balloon to test the public's reaction to a change in the school day.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲