Noun: trial balloon 'trI-ul bu'loon
- A test of public opinion
"The politician floated a trial balloon about the new tax policy to gauge voter reaction"
- A balloon sent up to test air currents
"Meteorologists released a trial balloon to gather data on upper atmosphere wind patterns"
Derived forms: trial balloons
Type of: balloon, dummy run [Brit, informal], test, trial, trial run, tryout
Encyclopedia: Trial balloon