feel the pulse of

feel the pulse of (something)

To use one's intuition to identify the current mood or feeling of a person, group, or setting. Try to feel the pulse of the crowd. If they seem bored, play some more upbeat songs. Can't you feel the pulse of the room? They are not going to appreciate your risqué jokes! I did feel the pulse of the audience, and they were falling asleep! That's why I decided to scrap the last few pages of my speech.

See also: feel, of, pulse

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

feel (or take) the pulse of

ascertain the general mood or opinion of.

The image here is of literally determining someone's heart rate by feeling and timing the pulsation of an artery.

1994 Daily Mirror Our new Housing Monitor…will take the pulse of the housing market to keep you informed about the value of your most precious asset—your home.

See also: feel, of, pulse

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017