see how the land lies

verb

Roget 463: experiment; essay etc. (endeavor) 675; try, try out, assay; make an experiment, make a trial of; give a trial to; put on trial, subject to trial; experiment upon; rehearse; put to the test, bring to the test, submit to the test, submit to the proof; prove, verify, test, touch, practice upon, try one's strength; road-test, test drive, take for a spin; test fly.    grope; feel one's way, grope for one's way; fumble, t=atonner, aller =a t=atons [Fr.], put out a feeler, throw out a feeler; send up a trial balloon, send up a pilot balloon; see how the land lies, get the lay of the land, test the waters, feel out, sound out, take the pulse, see, check, check out [Coll.], see how the wind blows; consult the barometer; feel the pulse; fish for, bob for; cast for, beat about for; angle, trawl, cast one's net, beat the bushes.    try one's fortune etc. (adventure) 675; explore etc. (inquire) 461.    ... show more

Roget 510: foresee; look forwards to, look ahead, look beyond; scent from afar; look into the future, pry into the future, peer into the future.    see one's way; see how the land lies, get the lay of the land, see how the wind blows, test the waters, see how the cat jumps.    anticipate; expect etc. 507; be beforehand etc. (early) 132; predict etc. 511; foreknow, forejudge, forecast; presurmise^†; have an eye to the future, have an eye to the main chance; respicere finem [Lat.]; keep a sharp lookout etc. (vigilance) 459; forewarn etc. 668.    ... show more

Roget 864: be cautious etc. adj.; take care, take heed, take good care; have a care mind, what one is about; be on one's guard etc. (keep watch) 459; make assurance doubly sure" [Macbeth]. bespeak etc. (be early) 132.    think twice, look before one leaps, count the cost, look to the main chance, cut one's coat according to one's cloth; feel one's ground, feel one's way; see how the land lies etc. (foresight) 510; wait to see how the cat jumps; bridle one's tongue; reculer pour mieux sauter etc. (prepare) 673 [Fr.]; let well alone, let well enough alone; let sleeping dogs lie, ne pas reveiller le chat qui dort [Fr.], don't wake a sleeping cat.    keep out of harm's way, keep out of troubled waters; keep at a respectful distance, stand aloof; keep on the safe side, be on the safe side.    husband one's resources etc. 636.    caution etc. (warn) 668.    ... show more

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