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

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

From William Hickling Prescott by Peck, Harry Thurston

I would send out the thing as a ballon d'essai, to see if anyone would read it for itself, or would detect me underneath the disguise.

From Escape, and Other Essays by Benson, Arthur Christopher

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

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.