feel out

feel out (third-person singular simple present feels out, present participle feeling out, simple past and past participle felt out)

1. (idiomatic) To attempt to ascertain a person's point of view, or the nature of a situation, by cautious and subtle means.

   I think we should feel out your mom's thoughts about this before we decide anything.

   • 1976 February 7, Rose Flower, quoting Jimmy McGrath, “Playland: The Friendliest Place In Town”, in Gay Community News, volume 3, number 32, page 13:

     I feel out strangers that come in to make sure they know they're in a gay place and won't cause any trouble.

• (try to ascertain a point of view or the nature of something): sound out, check out

• query
• question
• put out feelers

• outfeel, outflee