sound out

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sound out

I have to sound out the new professor on the topic.

Definition
  1. Verb (transitive):
    • To cautiously try to discover someone's opinions, intentions, or feelings: To ask questions or make statements in an indirect or careful way to gauge someone's thoughts on a subject.
    • To pronounce a word, especially by articulating its individual letters or syllables: To say a word slowly or phonetically, often as a method for reading or learning it.
Examples of Usage
  • Verb (Discovering Opinions):
    • Before proposing the new policy, the manager decided to sound out the team.
    • I will sound her out to see if she's interested in joining the project.
  • Verb (Pronouncing Words):
    • The teacher helped the student sound out the difficult word 'philosophy'.
    • Children learn to read by sounding out each letter.
Advanced Usage
  • "to sound someone out on/about something": To seek someone's opinion on a specific topic.
    • He sounded out the committee members about the proposed changes.
  • Used in contexts requiring diplomacy, preliminary investigation, or literacy education.
Variants and Related Words
  • Sound (verb): Can mean to measure depth or to test. While related in the concept of testing, it is a distinct usage (e.g., ).
  • Pronunciation (noun): The way in which a word is sounded out.
Synonyms
  • Probe: To investigate or explore.
  • Test the waters: To cautiously try to gauge opinion.
  • Enunciate: To pronounce clearly (closer to the second meaning).
Related Phrasal Verbs
  • Feel out: Very similar in meaning to the first definition of 'sound out' (to cautiously ascertain opinions).
    • I need to feel out my parents before I ask for the car.
Related Idioms
  • Pick someone's brain: To ask someone questions to obtain information or advice. This is less cautious and more direct than 'sounding out'.
    • Can I pick your brain about the marketing plan?
sound out

I have to sound out the new professor on the topic.

Verb
  1. try to learn someone's opinions and intentions
    • I have to sound out the new professor
  2. speak, pronounce, or utter in a certain way
    • She pronounces French words in a funny way
    • I cannot say `zip wire'
    • Can the child sound out this complicated word?

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