- To try something cautiously or tentatively before committing fully, to gauge the potential reaction, success, or difficulty.
Explanation
Origin
- A metaphor likely derived from the literal act of dipping a toe or hand into water (like a bath, pool, or sea) to check its temperature before fully immersing oneself.
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Slang/Informal:
- Suss it out. (UK/Aus slang investigate or figure it out cautiously)
- Get a vibe. (Try to understand the feeling or atmosphere)
- Do a soft launch. (Business context)
Milder/Standard:
- Conduct preliminary research. (Formal)
- Explore the possibility.
- Make an initial inquiry.
Situational Appropriateness
- Appropriate in most contexts, from informal chat to business discussions.
Misunderstanding Warnings
- Generally well-understood, but a very literal learner might initially picture actual water. The context usually makes the metaphorical meaning clear.
Examples
- Before launching the product nationwide, we're testing the waters in a few select cities.
- I mentioned the idea casually to my boss just to test the waters.
- She's thinking about moving abroad, so she's visiting for a month to test the waters.
Dialogue
Manager A: Should we propose the full merger plan at the next board meeting?
Manager B: Hmm, maybe not yet. Let's just float the idea of closer collaboration first, you know, test the waters.
Manager A: Good thinking. See how they react to that before we go all in.
Social Media Examples
- Post: Thinking of starting a podcast about sustainable living. Gonna post a few topic ideas here first to test the waters. What do you wanna hear about? #podcast #sustainability
- Tweet: Just dropped a hint about wanting that promotion... testing the waters before I make a formal request! Wish me luck 🙏 #careergoals
Response Patterns
- Good idea. Better safe than sorry.
- How did it go? / What did you find out? (If someone mentions they *have* tested the waters)
- Let me know how it turns out.
- Sounds sensible.
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
- After stating the intention: The person usually proceeds with the cautious action.
- After reporting the action: Someone might ask about the results (So, what's the verdict?, What was the reaction?).
- Based on the results, the person decides whether to proceed, modify the plan, or abandon it.
Conversation Starter
- No. Usually used to explain a cautious approach within an existing conversation about plans or actions.
Intonation
- Fairly neutral intonation.
- Stress typically falls on TEST and WA-ters.
- Example: TEST the WA-ters.
Generation Differences
- Widely understood and used across generations.
Regional Variations
- Common in all major English-speaking regions.