test the waters

English

Alternative forms

• test the water

Pronunciation

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

Verb

test the waters (third-person singular simple present tests the waters, present participle testing the waters, simple past and past participle tested the waters)

1. (idiomatic) To explore or probe, as before making a commitment.

   Taking classes in a subject is a good way to test the waters and explore a potential career.

Synonyms

• dip one's toe in the water
• put out feelers

Translations

explore or probe

• Arabic: جَسَّ النَّبْضَ (jassa n-nabḍa)
• Finnish: tunnustella maaperää
• French: tâter le terrain (fr), prendre la température (fr)
• Georgian: ნიადაგის მოსინჯვა (niadagis mosinǯva)
• Italian: tastare il terreno, sondare (it)
• Polish: badać grunt impf, wybadać grunt pf
• Russian: прощу́пывать по́чву impf (proščúpyvatʹ póčvu), прощу́пать по́чву pf (proščúpatʹ póčvu)
• Spanish: tantear el terreno, catar el melón
• Swedish: sondera terrängen

See also

• raise the flag and see who salutes
• trial balloon