Wiktionary
vb. (alternative form of test the waters English)
Usage examples of "test the water".
The pirogue was loaded with the supplies they would need to test the water, a camera and spare rolls of film, maps, notebooks, binoculars, mosquito repellent, sunscreen, and a styrofoam ice chest loaded with sandwiches, fresh fruit, and soda pop.
She turned away, kneeling by the pool to test the water with her hand.
One of the younger steers went into a swamp to test the water —.
With unusual bravery, he decided that it wouldn't hurt to gently test the water.
Some would do a routine check for other fluids, and some would test the water in the lungs.
Thad put a finger in the saucepan to test the water, then leaned back against the stove with his arms crossed, listening.
Out of the corner of my eye, I watched him, gauging his credulity, and decided to test the water before making a potentially fatal leap.
Jamie was so occupied trying to forget all the hurtful things Alec had said to her that she forgot to test the water.
One of the younger steers went into a swamp to test the water--it was salt--and became mired.
Both armies had their wizards and healers test the water at each stop on the journey west toward Makuran, and used a few horses to drink several hours before the men and the rest of the animals refreshed themselves, just in case the wizards and healers were wrong.
Dace and Maggie dropped into it, moaned for a few seconds, then relaxed, and watched LuEllen and me test the water.