Crossword clues for straw poll
straw poll
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Wiktionary
n. (context idiomatic English) A survey of opinion which is unofficial, casual, or ad hoc.
WordNet
n. an unofficial vote taken to determine opinion on some issue [syn: straw vote]
Wikipedia
A straw poll or straw vote is an ad-hoc or unofficial vote.
Straw polls provide dialogue among movements within large groups. Impromptu straw polls often are taken to see if there is enough support for an idea to devote more meeting time to it, and (when not a secret ballot) for the attendees to see who is on which side of a question. However, in meetings subject to Robert's Rules of Order, straw polls are not allowed.
Among political bodies, straw polls often are scheduled for events at which many people interested in the polling question can be expected to vote. Sometimes polls conducted without ordinary voting controls in place (i.e., on an honor system, such as in online polls) are also called "straw polls".
The idiom may allude to a straw (thin plant stalk) held up to see in what direction the wind blows, in this case, the wind of group opinion.
Usage examples of "straw poll".
At the press conference today, Reb Blaser said the House managers took a straw poll, and while they need only sixty-seven votes to convict me, the poll says they have eighty.
Preston knew that an honorable man like Sir Bernard Hemmings would feel bound to take a straw poll of his own heads of section throughout the six branches of the service.
That straw poll would weigh heavily with him, whatever his personal feelings might be.
The word was spreading fast about the killing of the Jap troops in the water, and the long walk became a sort of straw poll on Aster's deed.
There was a pause and a straw poll of eyes indicating this was the conventional wisdom.