find out/see how the land lies

to get information about a situation before making decisions or taking action.

I thought I'd better call my mother and see how the land lies before inviting myself home for the weekend.

• come one, come all
• come on like gangbusters
• come on strong
• come on to
• come on to someone
• come out
• come out fighting
• come out in the wash
• come out of shell
• come out of the closet
• come out of the woodwork
• come out of your shell
• come out smelling of roses
• come out swinging
• come over
• come over someone
• come pass with flying colours
• come rain or shine
• comes into head
• comes into your head
• come the raw prawn
• come through with flying colours
• come to a full stop
• come to a head
• come to a sticky end