test the water(s)
idiom

- to find out what people’s opinions of something are before you ask them to do something

- to try something new

The Cambridge Dictionary

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PHRASE ORIGIN

The phrase "test the waters" came into use in the 1960s and may allude to the fact that one sticks his toe in the water to test the temperature of a pool, lake, or ocean before diving in; it may allude to the fact that one tests the temperature of a bath before putting a baby in the water.

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"WATERY" EXPRESSIONS

- to be in hot water = if someone is in hot water, people are angry with them and they are likely to be punished. "He’s in hot water for not following the safety instructions."

- to tread water = to not make any progress. "It’s been three months without progress, we’re just treading water with this project."

- to pour cold water on (something) = to discourage or deter someone from doing something; to make something seem less appealing or reduce someone’s enthusiasm for something. "Travel restrictions have poured cold water on our vacation plans."

- to hold water = to be or appear to be true, verifiable, or supported by facts; to be able to withstand scrutiny or critical examination. "The investors will want to know if our assumptions hold water."

- to muddy the water(s) = to introduce something, typically information, to an issue or situation that makes it less clear or more confusing. "Politicians will typically muddy the waters with irrelevant arguments."

- it’s water under the bridge = something that has happened and cannot be changed. "It’s unfortunate that we didn’t get the contract, but that’s water under the bridge."

- to have one’s head above water = to keep up with one’s work. "Working 10 hours per day he can just keep his head above water."

- come hell or high water = no matter what happens. "I’m going to finish report today, come hell or high water!"

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SYNONYMS

- to explore or probe, as before making a commitment

analyze, check out (over, up), conduct an enquiry into, delve into, dig deeper (into), dip one’s toe in the water, enquire into, examine, feel out, go into (over), inquire into, inspect, investigate, look-see, look into, make inquiries, nose around, pry into, put out a feeler, put out feelers, research, scrutinize, sound out, stake out, TEST THE WATERS, verify

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SMUGGLE OWAD into an English conversation, say something like:

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