straw poll

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Noun 1.2.1 Synonyms 1.2.2 Quotations

[edit] English

Wikipedia

[edit] Etymology

It may allude to a straw (thin plant stalk) held up to see in what direction the wind blows, in this case, the wind of group opinion.

[edit] Noun

straw poll (plural straw polls)

1. (idiomatic) A survey of opinion which is unofficial, casual, or ad hoc.

[edit] Synonyms

• straw vote

[edit] Quotations

• 2002: I don't think it was innocence that made me want to carry out a straw poll of women friends on the plausibility of this passage — James Meek in London Review of Books, Vol. 24 No. 22, 14 November 2002