straw vote

noun

an unofficial vote taken to obtain an indication of the general trend of opinion on a particular issue.

Also called straw poll.

Origin

1885-90, Americanism

British Dictionary definitions for straw poll

straw poll

noun

an unofficial poll or vote taken to determine the opinion of a group or the public on some issue

Contemporary definitions for straw poll

noun

an unofficial accounting taken of opinion on an issue or candidate; also called straw vote

Word Origin

from straw 'not having real authority' or 'insignificant thing'

straw poll in Culture

straw poll definition

Originally, a small, informal opinion survey. Today, a straw poll is generally a large-scale, scientifically determined public opinion survey based on a random sample of the population. Straw polls are commonly used to test public opinion of candidates running for office.

Idioms and Phrases with straw poll

straw vote

Also, straw poll. An unofficial vote or poll indicating how people feel about a candidate or issue. For example, Let's take a straw poll on the bill and see how it fares. This idiom alludes to a straw used to show in what direction the wind blows, in this case the wind of public opinion. O. Henry joked about it in A Ruler of Men (1907): “A straw vote only shows which way the hot air blows.” [ c. 1885 ]