ballon d'essai

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The Germans would simply use the small offer, not as a ballon d'essai, but as a means of inaugurating direct negotiations.

From Time Magazine Archive

It was to have been a mere joke, a mere ballon d'essai.

From The Master of Mrs. Chilvers by Jerome, Jerome K. (Jerome Klapka)

And in the early morning she had sent her note to Kitty—a ballon d'essai, despatched in a horror of great fear.

From The Marriage of William Ashe by Ward, Humphry, Mrs.

It was not received with universal favour, and, to avert dissension, it was represented as a mere ballon d'essai and was abandoned.

From The Open Secret of Ireland by Kettle, T. M. (Thomas Michael)

That was a ballon d'essai, as they call it, and they think it was a very happy one.

From Royal Highness by Mann, Thomas