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trial
bring someone or something to trial
to bring a crime or a criminal into court for a trial. At last, the thugs were brought to trial. We brought the case to trial a week later.
go to trial
[for a case] to go into court to be tried. When will this case go to trial? We go to trial next Monday.
on trial
1. [of someone] in a legal case before a judge. The criminal was on trial for over three months. lam not on trial. Don't treat me like that!
2. being tested; being examined or experimented with. The new strain of wheat is on trial in Kansas at the present time. The teaching method is on trial in the school system.
send someone or something up
1. Lit. to order someone to go upward to a higher level; to arrange for something to be taken upward to a higher level. I'll send up Gary. They are hungry on the tenth floor. Let's send some sandwiches up.
2. Fig. to parody or ridicule someone or something. Comedians love to send the president or some other famous person up. The comedian sent up the vice president.
send someone up
Fig. to mock or ridicule, particularly by imitation. Last week, he sent the prime minister up. In his act, he sends up famous people.
send up a trial balloon
to suggest something and see how people respond to it; to test public opinion. Mary had an excellent idea, but when we sent up a trial balloon, the response was very negative. Don't start the whole project without sending up a trial balloon.
stand trial
to be the accused person in a trial before a judge; to be on trial. He had to stand trial for perjury and obstruction of justice.
trial and error
trying repeatedly for success. I finally found the right key after lots of trial and error. Sometimes trial and error is the only way to get something done.
trial balloon
a test of someone's or the public's reaction. It was just a trial balloon, and it didn't work. The trial balloon was a great success.
trials and tribulations
Cliché problems and tests of one's courage or perseverance. I suppose I have the normal trials and tribulations for a person of my background, but some days are just a little too much for me. I promise not to tell you of the trials and tribulations of my day if you promise not to tell me yours!
on trial
being judged in a court of law He was on trial for burglary.
stand trial
to appear in a court of law to be judged guilty or not guilty of doing something He is scheduled to stand trial for murder this summer.
on trial
1. In the process of being tried, especially in a court of law. For example, He would be put on trial for the murder of his wife. [Early 1700s]
2. As a test of something, on probation, as in They said we could take the vacuum cleaner on trial and return it if it was too noisy. [Early 1700s]
send up
1. Put in prison, as in He'll be sent up for at least ten years. [Mid-1800s]
2. Cause to rise, as in The emissions sent up by that factory are clearly poisonous. [Late 1500s]
3. Satirize, make a parody of, as in This playwright has a genius for sending up suburban life. [First half of 1900s]
trial and error
An attempt to accomplish something by trying various means until the correct one is found. for example, The only way to solve this problem is by trial and error. The error here alludes to the failed means or attempts, which are discarded until the right way is found. [c. 1800]
trial balloon
An idea or plan advanced tentatively to test public reaction, as in Let's send up a trial balloon for this new program before we commit ourselves. This expression alludes to sending up balloons to test weather conditions. [c. 1930]
trial by fire
A test of one's abilities to perform well under pressure, as in Finishing this buge list of chores in time for the wedding is really a trial by fire. This expression alludes to the medieval practice of determining a person's guilt by having them undergo an ordeal, such as walking barefoot through a fire.
trials and tribulations
Tests of one's patience or endurance, as in She went through all the trials and tribulations of being admitted to law school only to find she couldn't afford to go . This redundant expression- trial and tribulation here both mean the same thing-is also used semi-humorously, as in Do you really want to hear about the trials and tribulations of my day at the office?
send up
v.1. To send someone to jail: They sent the crook up for ten years. The cops busted the gang and sent up the leader.
2. To make a parody of someone or something: The comedian sends up contemporary culture. I'm not afraid to send myself up to make people laugh.
trial balloon
n. a test of someone’s reaction. It was just a trial balloon, and it didn’t work.
on trial
In the process of being tried, as in a court of law.
trial by fire
A test of one's abilities, especially the ability to perform well under pressure.