sound out
[verb]
Synonyms: probe, canvass, pump, question, see how the land lies

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

sound somebody/something ↔ out phrasal verb (see also sound)
to talk to someone in order to find out what they think about a plan or idea:
He sounded people out and found the responses favourable.
They want to sound out his opinion before they approach him formally.
sound somebody/something ↔ out about
I wanted to sound her out about a job that I'm thinking of applying for.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

sound out
sound (someone) out
to carefully discover what someone thinks or knows.
I thought it might be good to sound him out about having you come to work for us.

His policy was to sound out top business leaders before making any new economic proposals.

Usage notes: used to describe a way of asking about someone's opinions without upsetting or angering them
Etymology: based on the idea of sounding out a word you do not know by carefully pronouncing each part of it

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

sound out
to try to find out how a person feels about something by asking him or her questions
The man has been sounding out his wife to see if she wants to move to a new house.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

sound out
v. To try to find out how a person feels about something usually by careful questions.
Alfred sounded out his boss about a day off from his job.
When you see the coach, sound him out about my chances of getting on the basketball team.
Synonym: FEEL OUT.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

sound someone out
sound (someone) out
to carefully discover what someone thinks or knows.
I thought it might be good to sound him out about having you come to work for us.

His policy was to sound out top business leaders before making any new economic proposals.

Usage notes: used to describe a way of asking about someone's opinions without upsetting or angering them
Etymology: based on the idea of sounding out a word you do not know by carefully pronouncing each part of it

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

sound someone out
to try to find out how a person feels about something by asking him or her questions
The man has been sounding out his wife to see if she wants to move to a new house.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲