trial balloon

balloon used in an experiment; hot-air balloon used for reconnaissance

A trial balloon is information sent out in order to observe the reaction of an audience. It can be used by companies sending out press releases to judge reaction by customers, or it can be used by politicians who deliberately leak information on a policy change under consideration. In politics trial balloons often take the form of an intentional news leak to assess public opinion.
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Noun
1. a test of public opinion
(hypernym) trial, trial run, test, tryout
2. a balloon sent up to test air currents
(hypernym) balloon

a hint about a plan with the purpose of finding out what people think about the idea We sent up a trial balloon to see who would support our plan to enlarge the factory.

Synonyms and related words:
barometer, bone of contention, catechism, cross-interrogatory, cross-question, debating point, demand, feeler, inquiry, interrogation, interrogative, interrogatory, issue, leader, leading question, moot point, pilot balloon, point at issue, point in question, probe, problem, query, question, question at issue, question mark, quodlibet, random sample, sample, sound, sounder, straw vote, topic, trial, vexed question, weather vane, weathercock