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? asked in Society & CultureLanguages · 9 years ago

English question: What does the expression "put a line in the water" mean, figuratively?

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Update:

Thank you very much both for answering. I came across it in Michael Connelly's "The Concrete Blonde. "

"Well, that was all I was checking," Mola said into the phone. "Just trying to put a line in the water. Ask around and let me know what you come up with."

(As they are trying to find out who the murderer is.)

2 Answers

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  • Anonymous
    9 years ago
    Favorite Answer

    To go fishing.

    Perhaps more to the point; to put the bait out there and see if it catches anything.

    A salesman looking for a new customer could be said to be "putting a line in the water."

  • 9 years ago

    Probably to take a chance

    Source(s): Native English speaker, but I've never heard that expression lol
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