Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
to test the waters
idiom
/tə ˈtɛst ðə ˈwɔtərz/
Definition
To try something out or to experiment with a situation before making a final decision.
Examples
- Before launching the new product, the company decided to test the waters by conducting a market survey.
- She sent a few messages to her friends to test the waters on whether they would be interested in a reunion.
Meaning
This phrase is often used to describe the act of gauging people’s reactions or the feasibility of a plan by doing a small, preliminary trial.
Synonyms
- try out
- experiment
- sample
