trial balloon

• 1. 

  N-COUNT A trial balloon is a proposal that you mention or an action that you try in order to find out other people's reactions to it, especially if you think they are likely to oppose it. 试探气球 ; 为测试其他人的反应，尤其当你觉得他们持反对意见时的试行方案或行动。 [美国英语]

  例：

  The petition could be just a trial balloon to test the administration's reaction.

  这次上诉可作为测试政府反应的一个试行方案。