be flying a kite

be flying a kite

To be suggesting something in order to gauge interest in it. When everyone objected to my idea, I reassured them that I was just flying a kite and had not made any sort of decision on the matter.

See also: flying, kite

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

be flying a kite

mainly BRITISH

If someone is flying a kite, they are suggesting ideas or possibilities in order to see how people react to them before making a decision about them. The committee has paid a good deal of attention to what might be politically possible. It is consciously flying a kite. The idea came from a senator, but it seems likely that he was flying a kite for the secretary of state. Note: You can also talk about kite-flying. Bracken says he does not want to start kite-flying for his candidacy.

See also: flying, kite

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012