straw poll

British  

noun

1. an unofficial poll or vote taken to determine the opinion of a group or the public on some issue

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straw poll Cultural  

1. Originally, a small, informal opinion survey. Today, a straw poll is generally a large-scale, scientifically determined public opinion survey based on a random sample of the population. Straw polls are commonly used to test public opinion of candidates running for office.

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Example Sentences

A quick straw poll among the team here in our office also suggested this is the case - with most school parent groups having only a handful of male members.

From BBC

An official straw poll of conference attendees only underlined what by then was obvious.

From BBC

A straw poll among neutrals at half-time at Wembley would have come down firmly on the side of a Real victory, even though they had been abysmal.

From BBC

A straw poll of the football public would surely see the Heart of Midlothian man win that contest in a landslide.

From BBC

A Reuters straw poll of two dozen voters around the country found many with little enthusiasm for any party and torn between what they viewed as the least bad choice.

From Reuters