sound out

British  

verb

1. (tr, adverb) to question (someone) in order to discover (opinions, facts, etc)

---

sound out Idioms  

1. Seek the views or intentions of, as in We'd better sound out Mom about who's using the station wagon, or Let's sound out the staff before we decide which week we should close for vacation. This expression derives from sound meaning “to measure the depth of water by lowering a line or lead.” It was transferred to other kinds of inquiry in the late 1500s, but out was not added for several centuries.

---

Example Sentences

We’re taught how to teach the students to write both print and cursive letters, how to sound out words from syllables, and how to create sentences by joining together verbs and nouns.

From Literature

Coal disagreed, but he still couldn’t get any sounds out of his mouth.

From Literature

Talks are at a very early, sounding out stage and it is not yet known who the leading contender is to temporarily replace Ruben Amorim for the rest of the campaign.

From BBC

He's poured a metaphorical can of Australian beer over the novel by converting Tolstoy's prose into a lingo that wouldn't sound out of place in the popular Aussie sitcom Kath & Kim.

From BBC

When he has sensed vulnerability in the past, he's frequently used his political rallies and public appearances to sound out new ideas and gauge popular support.

From BBC

Related Words

• bark
• clang
• honk
• hoot
• resound
• roar
• scream
• shout
• shriek
• toot
• trumpet