scope out

verb

1. to assess the potential of an opportunity or suggestion

   a scoping-out study

Example Sentences

Investors come to scope out films and filmmakers look to raise money.

From Los Angeles Times

Robbie and Cliff are municipal garbagemen in their Philadelphia suburb, using their route to scope out targets.

From Salon

One Lancashire Police officer described how organised crime gangs "scope out" farms before stealing from them while sheep have been "slaughtered" at the side of the road.

From BBC

When they go, the beauty product educators and entrepreneurs scope out new product trends and wellness ingredients that haven’t yet hit mass retailers.

From Los Angeles Times

“I think we all liked handicapping quite a bit, so I distinctly remember a lot of trips down to the paddock to scope out who looked good before races and trying to hustle bets and stuff like that.”

From Los Angeles Times