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

• the spirit moves you
• the staff of life
• the stage is set for
• the stage is set for something
• the state of play
• the status quo
• the story of life
• the story of someone's life
• the straight and narrow
• the straight and narrow path
• the straw that breaks the camel's back
• the swing of things
• the tables are turned.
• the tail end of
• the tail end of something
• the tail wagging the dog
• the thin end of the wedge
• the thing is
• the thinking man's crumpet
• the thinking woman's crumpet
• the third degree
• the three R's
• the tide turns
• the time is ripe
• the tip of the iceberg