Trial balloon Meaning in English
expression
Definition
An idea or action presented to see how people will react before making a final decision. Often used in politics or business to test public or stakeholder opinion.
Usage & Nuances
Usually figurative, not about real balloons. Common in media, business, and political discussions—'float a trial balloon' means to test reactions. Mildly formal, rarely used in casual speech. Often signals a proposal is not final.
Example Sentences
The company released a trial balloon to see if people liked the new product idea.
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The politician used a trial balloon about tax changes.
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They sent out a trial balloon before making the official announcement.
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Leaking the memo was just a trial balloon to test how the board would react.
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The CEO floated a trial balloon about switching to a four-day workweek.
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Whenever you hear a strange new plan in the news, it might just be a trial balloon.
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