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.

This little ballon d'essai met the fate of many such, for the manuscript was returned within a fortnight.

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

The first born is a ballon d'essai.

From Project Gutenberg

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

She was not a ballon d’essai; she was literally the whole show; and if she duplicated the sensational success of poor little Miss Claridge, we had nothing to fear.

From Project Gutenberg