trial balloon
An idea, suggestion, or prospective action, product, etc., offered to an audience or group in order to test whether it generates acceptance or interest.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“The company sent out a trial balloon to see if customers like the idea.”
“The politician released a trial balloon about the new tax policy to gauge public reaction before making a final decision.”
“By leaking the proposal to the press, the administration launched a trial balloon to assess whether the controversial reform would face significant opposition from the electorate.”
The term is a calque of the French *ballon d’essai*, literally a "trial balloon." The practice involved releasing a small, unmanned balloon into the sky to determine the direction and tendency of the winds in the upper air before a manned ascent was attempted in a larger vessel. By monitoring the drift of the smaller craft, aeronauts could assess whether the conditions were suitable for a more significant commitment.
The figurative transition from meteorology to public affairs occurred by the late 19th century. Just as the physical *ballon d’essai* tested the atmosphere, the metaphorical version serves as a prospective action to test public acceptance. It remains a method of releasing a small amount of information to gauge the strength of the prevailing political winds before an actual policy is launched.
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balloon goes up
Something exciting, risky, or troublesome begins.
- 02
balloon knot
The anus.
- 03
make trial of
To check the quality, reliability, performance or genuineness of (something or someone).
- 04
stand trial
To sustain the trial or examination of a cause; not to give up without trial.
- 05
trial by fire
Any ordeal which tests one's strength, endurance or resolve.
- 06
trial by media
The process by which media coverage affects a person's reputation by creating a widespread perception of guilt or innocence, often before, or after, a verdict in a court of law.
- 07
trials and tribulations
Unpleasant experiences that put one's endurance and strength to the test.
Last updated August 10, 2026