trial run

American  

noun

1. a preliminary performance or test of something, as of the operation of a ship or the effectiveness of a play.

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trial run British  

noun

1. a test drive in a vehicle to assess its performance

2. a test or rehearsal of something new or untried to assess its effectiveness

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Etymology

Origin of trial run

First recorded in 1900–05

Example Sentences

Perched on a bluff above the Mississippi River at the University of Minnesota, the museum was a trial run for Bilbao and Disney, without the help of advanced digital tools.

From Los Angeles Times

On August 12, 1863, after having completed trial runs in Mobile Bay, the Hunley was transported by rail to Charleston, South Carolina.

From Literature

The first draw is a trial run for a scheme that the city could extend, the official said, adding that there was an "ecological interest" in reusing burial plots.

From Barron's

Just a week earlier, in trial runs, perfumes were piped into the air so people could get a whiff of the Emerald City.

From Los Angeles Times

Randazzo and Gubicza do too, which frankly is a stroke of luck on the Angels’ part, since the two men said the team did not have them do a trial run together before hiring Randazzo.

From Los Angeles Times