trial balloon

== English == === Alternative forms === trial-balloon === Etymology === Calque of French ballon d’essai (“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; (figuratively) prospective action to test acceptance”): ballon (“balloon”), essai (“trial, try; assay”). === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˌtɹaɪəl bəˈluːn/ (General American) IPA(key): /ˌtɹaɪəl bəˈlun/ Rhymes: -uːn Hyphenation: trial bal‧loon === Noun === trial balloon (plural trial balloons) (aeronautics, historical) 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. (idiomatic, figuratively) An idea, suggestion, or prospective action, product, etc., offered to an audience or group in order to test whether it generates acceptance or interest. Synonyms: ballon d'essai, feeler ==== Translations ==== ==== See also ==== === References === === Further reading === trial balloon on Wikipedia.Wikipedia “trial balloon”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.