test

an acid test

a test which will really prove the value, quality, or truth of something. The new show was well received but viewing figures for the next episode will be the real acid test.

a litmus test

something that shows clearly what someone's opinions or intentions are. His views on abortion are effectively a litmus test of his views on women's rights.

stand the test of time

if something stands the test of time, it remains popular or respected for a long time. Very little of the drama from this period has stood the test of time.

See also: stand, time

test the water/waters

to try to discover what people think about an idea before you do anything about it, or to try to discover what a situation is really like before you become very involved in it. I mentioned my idea to a couple of friends as a way of testing the water and they were very enthusiastic about it. Perhaps you should go to a couple of meetings to test the waters before you decide whether to join the club.

See also: water, Waters

tried and tested/trusted (British, American & Australian, American)

used by many people and proved to be effective. They ran a highly successful advertising campaign using a tried and tested formula. Most people would prefer to stick to tried and true methods of birth control.

See also: trust

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pass the smell test

to be morally acceptable. Robinson's removal as an independent investigator doesn't pass the smell test, and many believe it was done for political reasons.

Usage notes: often used in negative sentences, as in the example

See also: pass, smell

put someone/something to the test

to find out how good someone or something is. Those icy roads certainly put my driving to the test. An explosion in the subway put police and firefighters to the test.

stand the test of time

to continue to work well over a long period of time. Look for software that has stood the test of time, not something new and unproven. So we want it to be a good house, one that's going to stand the test of time.

See also: stand, time

test the waters

to try something new. We are testing the waters to see if online ads increase sales.

float an idea

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of test the waters (= to put your toe into water to see how cold it is)

See also: Waters