Question of the Day #1314

Unions Run It up the Flagpole

From the headline of this article at the Mackinac Center.

  上記の文で、run it up the flagpoleの意味は？
In the sentence above, what does "run it up the flagpole" mean?

  答えは、コメントに書いてください。
Write your answer in the Comments.

明日、ここに答えを書きます。
I will add the answer and other remarks here tomorrow.

 

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解答

意味：
このイディオムは、run it up the flagpole and see if anyone salutes itを省略したもので英辞郎によると、

試しに話してみて反応を探る◆【語源】1950年代から1960年初頭にかけて、アメリカでよく使われた表現。◆【直訳】旗ざおに掲げてみて誰か敬礼するかどうかを調べる。

   

Answer

According to The Free Dictionary:

To test out an idea in order to gauge interest or gain feedback.

 

Examples

1. Run your idea up the flagpole before you pitch it to the boss, so that you don't make a fool of yourself.
2. Before we finalize the marketing strategy, let's run it up the flagpole and see what the team thinks.
3. have a new product idea; I’ll run it up the flagpole at the next meeting.
4. She suggested a new design for the website and wanted to run it up the flagpole before making any changes.
5. They decided to run their budget proposal up the flagpole to see if it would be approved by upper management.

   

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