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trial balloon

noun

a statement, program, or the like issued publicly as a means of determining reactions in advance.
The speech was a trial balloon for a new law.

trial balloon

noun

a tentative action or statement designed to test public opinion on a controversial matter Compare ballon d'essai

trial balloon

A small campaign or test designed to gauge public response. The term originally referred to a balloon sent up to determine weather conditions: “The speech on free trade that the candidate delivered last month must have been a trial balloon; the audience reacted with hostility, and he has not mentioned the subject since.”

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Word History and Origins

Origin of trial balloon¹

First recorded in 1930–35

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Idioms and Phrases

An idea or plan advanced tentatively to test public reaction, as in Let's send up a trial balloon for this new program before we commit ourselves. This expression alludes to sending up balloons to test weather conditions. [c. 1930]

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

We haven't heard anything further much about that since it was first floated — maybe it was a trial balloon that fizzled.

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These are the stories that resonate now, the innovations that feel fresh, the trial balloons for where the art form is headed.

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Over and again his aides have chucked out trial balloons to an avid press corps – only to have each potential prime minister disavowed the following day.

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So in addition to courting delegates in early primary voting states, like Iowa for Republicans and South Carolina for Democrats, California tends to see a number of auditions and trial balloons by presidential hopefuls.

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Before they settled on this cleverly dishonest video, his campaign was leaking trial balloons to the press about considering a 15- or 16-week ban.

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trial balance trial by battle

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