trial balloon
noun
: a project or scheme tentatively announced in order to test public opinion
Example Sentences
She's been floating trial balloons about a possible run for Congress.
Recent Examples on the Web Essentially, the streaming-service sampling serves as a trial balloon for customers and represents a baby step toward a much broader streaming component in the years ahead. 
Jr Radcliffe, Journal Sentinel, 27 July 2022 Lindsay Schubiner, a program director for the Western States Center, says this could be a trial balloon. Bryan Schott, The Salt Lake Tribune, 15 Aug. 2022 Essentially, the streaming-service sampling serves as a trial balloon for customers and represents a baby step toward a much broader streaming component in the years ahead. Jr Radcliffe, Journal Sentinel, 27 July 2022 Essentially, the streaming-service sampling serves as a trial balloon for customers and represents a baby step toward a much broader streaming component in the years ahead. Jr Radcliffe, Journal Sentinel, 12 July 2022 So, the Lakers floated their three leading candidates for coach to the media this week as a sort of trial balloon. Bill Plaschke, Los Angeles Times, 21 May 2022 Elizabeth Sepper, a University of Texas law professor who studies health law, said the apparent leak could be posturing by one side or another, tempering expectations or floating a trial balloon. Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY, 3 May 2022 Still, even if it is destined for the dustbin, the measure’s mere existence means it could be used as grist to energize conservatives on the campaign trail — and a trial balloon that sets the stage for more serious discussion next year. al, 11 Mar. 2022 In the media environment of an earlier generation, that sort of sotto-voce remark was a good way to float a trial balloon to insiders. Benjamin Wallace-wells, The New Yorker, 8 Jan. 2022 See More
Jr Radcliffe, Journal Sentinel, 27 July 2022 Lindsay Schubiner, a program director for the Western States Center, says this could be a trial balloon. Bryan Schott, The Salt Lake Tribune, 15 Aug. 2022 Essentially, the streaming-service sampling serves as a trial balloon for customers and represents a baby step toward a much broader streaming component in the years ahead. Jr Radcliffe, Journal Sentinel, 27 July 2022 Essentially, the streaming-service sampling serves as a trial balloon for customers and represents a baby step toward a much broader streaming component in the years ahead. Jr Radcliffe, Journal Sentinel, 12 July 2022 So, the Lakers floated their three leading candidates for coach to the media this week as a sort of trial balloon. Bill Plaschke, Los Angeles Times, 21 May 2022 Elizabeth Sepper, a University of Texas law professor who studies health law, said the apparent leak could be posturing by one side or another, tempering expectations or floating a trial balloon. Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY, 3 May 2022 Still, even if it is destined for the dustbin, the measure’s mere existence means it could be used as grist to energize conservatives on the campaign trail — and a trial balloon that sets the stage for more serious discussion next year. al, 11 Mar. 2022 In the media environment of an earlier generation, that sort of sotto-voce remark was a good way to float a trial balloon to insiders. Benjamin Wallace-wells, The New Yorker, 8 Jan. 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
1935, in the meaning defined above