How to Pronounce "send up a trial balloon"
expression
SEND-up-uh-TRY-uhl-buh-LOON
SEND-up-ay-TRY-uhl-buh-LOON
Definition
To test how people will react to an idea or proposal by mentioning it informally before making any official decision.
IPA Transcription
American English
ˈsɛnd/ /ˈəp/ /ˈeɪ/, /ə/ /ˈtɹaɪəɫ/, /ˈtɹaɪɫ/ /bəˈɫun
British English
sˈɛnd/ /ˈʌp/ /æɪ/ /tɹˈaɪəl/ /bəlˈuːn
Simplified Pronunciation
US
SEND-up-uh-TRY-uhl-buh-LOON
UK
SEND-up-ay-TRY-uhl-buh-LOON
Listen in Context
The manager decided to send up a trial balloon before changing the company rules.
They sent up a trial balloon by asking a few friends about the new idea.
It's smart to send up a trial balloon before making big changes.
Let’s send up a trial balloon and see how our team reacts before announcing anything publicly.