What Does "Test the Waters" Mean?
"Test the waters" is an English idiom. It means "to conduct a preliminary or informal assessment or investigation to gauge interest, reactions, or potential outcomes before making a decision."Examples in Sentences
Here are three examples of the idiom "test the waters" used in a sentence:- Before launching the product, they decided to test the waters with a focus group to gather feedback.
- The candidate tested the waters by conducting a series of town hall meetings to assess public opinion.
- It's essential to test the waters before committing to a large-scale project.
What Is an Idiom?
An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Test the Waters" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.
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