test the waters

to try something new We are testing the waters to see if online ads increase sales.

Related vocabulary: float an idea

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of test the waters (to put your toe into water to see how cold it is)

Name	Pronounced	Usage
Riannon	-	Welsh
Jaci	-	English
Joel	JOL (English), JO-əl (English), ho-EL (Spanish), zhoo-EL (Portuguese), YO-el (Swedish, Finnish)	English, Spanish, Portuguese, Swedish, Finnish, Biblical
Daniel	['dænjəl]
Davey	DAY-vee	English
Zac	ZAK	English