Trial Balloon (Noun)
Meaning 2
A test of public opinion.
Classification
Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents.
Examples
- The politician floated a trial balloon by mentioning a possible tax increase to gauge the public's reaction.
- The company released a trial balloon about a potential new product to see how customers would respond.
- The government sent up a trial balloon by leaking a proposal to the press to test the waters.
- The candidate's team launched a trial balloon by suggesting a bold new policy to see how voters would react.
- The think tank released a trial balloon in the form of a provocative report to stimulate public debate.