[put] out feelers
1
to ask some questions in order to figure out what someone is thinking of or what their opinion about a particular person or thing is
The idiom "put out feelers" is used to describe the act of making informal inquiries or suggestions to test the reaction of others before taking any further action. It is often used in a cautious or tentative way, as the person putting out feelers is not sure how others will react. The phrase is typically used in situations where the speaker wants to avoid making a commitment or causing offense.
- The company was putting out feelers about the possibility of relocating to a new city.
- The politician was putting out feelers to see if there was any support for his tax reform plan.
- The writer was putting feelers out to see if any publishers were interested in her new novel.
- The unemployed man was putting out feelers to see if any of his former colleagues had any job openings.
- The couple was putting out feelers to see if any of their friends would be interested in adopting their dog.