trial balloon (English, noun)
expansion: trial balloon (plural trial balloons)
Senses:
topics: aeronautics
aerospace
business
engineering
natural-sciences
physical-sciences
glosses: A small balloon released into the sky to determine the direction and tendency of winds in the upper air before a manned ascent in a larger balloon; a ballon d'essai.
tags: historical
glosses: An idea, suggestion, or prospective action, product, etc., offered to an audience or group in order to test whether it generates acceptance or interest.
tags: figuratively
idiomatic
Forms:
form: trial balloons
tags: plural
form: trial-balloon
tags: alternative