run something up the flagpole
Test an idea
To run something up the flagpole is to propose an idea or plan to see how others react, testing whether it gains approval or interest before committing to it.
The full expression is often run it up the flagpole and see who salutes.
The phrase has a corporate or bureaucratic flavor: Let me run this up the flagpole with the board.
- trial balloonPreliminary test of opinion
- brainstormSpontaneous idea generation
- prototypeFirst functional specimen
- proposalFormal plan for consideration
- pitchFrequency of sound
beta test · critique · proof of concept · feasibility study · showcase · see what sticks · sounding board · gut check · sanity check · feedback loop · focus group · demonstration · test the waters · blue-sky thinking · soft launch · briefing · think tank · consensus building
run something up the flagpolepull the trigger
Initiate the irreversible action
commit · decide · take the plunge · go all in · seal the deal
run, runs, ran, running, runner, runners, runny, something, some