A: Do you think I can get a pay rise next month? B: You’d better test the waters with the head of your department before raising the issue with the big boss. Note: This idiom means to “try to find out what people think about something in order to decide whether or not to do it.” Before you jump into a pool, it’s wise to dip your toe in it to feel if it is cold or warm. This is perhaps where the idiom came from. To “test the waters” is used when you scan your surroundings and absorb information around you before making a decision. |