test the water/waters

to try to discover what people think about an idea before you do anything about it, or to try to discover what a situation is really like before you become very involved in it.

I mentioned my idea to a couple of friends as a way of testing the water and they were very enthusiastic about it.

Perhaps you should go to a couple of meetings to test the waters before you decide whether to join the club.

• have had more something than has had hot dinners
• have had more something than someone has had hot dinners
• have had more than fair share of
• have had more than fair share of something
• have had more than has had hot dinners
• have had more than someone has had hot dinners
• have had more than your fair share of
• have had more than your fair share of something
• have had your chips
• have had your day
• have had your fill
• have had your fill of
• have had your fill of something
• have half a mind
• have half a mind to
• have half a mind to do something
• have half an ear on
• have half an ear on something
• have half an eye on
• have half an eye on someone
• have half an eye on something
• have hand in the till
• have hands full
• have hanging over head
• have hanging over your head