kite flying

noun

The tactic whereby a politician, usually through the media and often by way of an intentional leak, raises an idea to gauge the public reaction to it.

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Meanings

nounkite flying (uncountable)
  1. uncountablegovernmentThe tactic whereby a politician, usually through the media and often by way of an intentional leak, raises an idea to gauge the public reaction to it.
    1 more example

    If implemented, Labour's embryonic proposal is unlikely to do anything to resolve that debate, as judges will do what they are entitled to do – ignore the guidance and apply the Human Rights Act. But if Labour's proposal is, as I suspect it is, an exercise in political kite flying, then it may signal something more significant.

    2014 June 5, Adam Wagner, “Human rights reform ... Labour reveals its hand”, in UK Human Rights Blog
Cite this entry
APA

kite flying. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/kite%20flying

MLA

“kite flying.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/kite%20flying. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “kite flying,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/kite%20flying.

Source: kite flying on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.