Daily Almanac for
Jul 24, 2008
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Balloon

(A pilot) Metaphorically, a feeler, sent to ascertain public opinion.

“The pilot balloon sent from ... has shown [the sender] the direction of the wind, and he now trims his sails accordingly.” —Newspaper paragraph, January, 1886.

Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894
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