to suggest something informally to see if people accept it or are interested in it.

The mayor originally floated the idea, and it was quickly taken up by a number of city agencies.

Related vocabulary: test the waters

• If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.
• if you catch my drift
• if you get my drift
• If you pay peanuts, you get monkeys.
• if you play cards right
• if you play your cards right
• If you've got it, flaunt it!
• Ignorance is bliss.
• I guess so
• I have to hand it to
• I have to hand it to someone
• ill at ease
• I'll be a monkey's uncle!
• I'll be damned
• I'll be damned if I
• I'll be damned if I do something
• I'll believe it when I see it.
• I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.
• I'll cross that bridge when we come to it.
• I'll eat my hat
• I'll give what for!
• I'll give you what for!
• I'll love you and leave you.
• I'll say
• I'll take a rain check