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01:09 Nov 4, 2010 

When I saw "test the waterS," my concern was identical to yours. I didn't see how it could work syntactically. It somehow doesn't fit. You would have to add, I think, something like "to see whether or not it was feasible..." A lot of fuss, in other words.

23:50 Nov 3, 2010 

Personally, I "test the waters" of every proposed answer by inserting the sample phrase into the rest of my translated sentence and seeing whether it flows as a whole.


At first I, too, thought this was a solid option.


But upon further reflection I do have concerns about it working in the sentence:

"[x] tested the waters of [for?] a co-op apartment..."
Something about this structure sounds off, doesn't it?

23:31 Nov 3, 2010 

I don't disagree with the answer itself. (Far from it). I just have a suspicion that it may be a right answer to a wrong question.

23:28 Nov 3, 2010 

Sorry, but not really. It's a solid answer.

23:26 Nov 3, 2010 

Just wanted to share a sneaky suspicion I have. This is the obvious translation that first springs to mind, I had it myself. But, having had a second look at it, I'm starting to feel it may be the infamous "false friend". Consider:

http://www.usingenglish.com/reference/idioms/test the waters...
"you experiment to see how successful or acceptable something is before implementing it

Barry's example:
"Before we go ahead with the new project, we'd better test the water"

Both examples are talking about some project we already have in mind but would like to check, verify, validate its viability.

In contrast, my feeling about the original is that it means looking for options. Where/what/how to buy, how do we arrange financing/mortage. That sort of thing.

In other words, not checking to see if a project will or will not work but determining what's available for consideration.

Am I making any sense there?