PhrasesHub

Bounce something off someone

    Definitions

      • seek advice or approval
        To discuss an idea or suggestion with someone in order to get their opinion or approval before proceeding

      • share information
        To informally share information or ideas with someone to get their reaction or input

    Examples of Bounce something off someone

    • Sarah wanted to start her own business, but she wasn't sure how to get started. She bounced her idea off her friend, Mark, who had some experience in entrepreneurship. Mark listened carefully and asked Sarah a lot of questions to help clarify her thoughts. After their conversation, Sarah had a much clearer plan and felt more confident about moving forward with her business idea.

      The idiom "bounce something off someone" means to share an idea, question, or concern with someone and get feedback or advice in response. It's often used in a brainstorming or problem-solving context, as a way to test out a new idea or get a fresh perspective. In this example, Sarah used this idiom by sharing her business idea with Mark and asking for his input.

    • During a brainstorming session, the marketing team was trying to come up with a tagline for their new product. They weren't sure which direction to go, so they decided to bounce their ideas off the CEO, who had a lot of experience in marketing and branding. The CEO listened to each suggestion and gave the team feedback on which ones he thought were most effective and memorable. This helped the marketing team refine their ideas and settle on a tagline that they felt confident about.

      This example shows how the idiom "bounce something off someone" can be used in a business context, specifically in a brainstorming or ideation setting. By bouncing their ideas off the CEO, the marketing team was able to get valuable feedback and guidance that helped them refine their ideas and make a more informed decision.

    • As a freelance writer, Emily often has questions about grammar, style, or formatting. She doesn't want to waste time searching through books or websites for answers, so she bounces her questions off her editor, who is an expert in these areas. Her editor is always happy to clarify any doubts or confusion that Emily has, and by bouncing these questions off him, Emily is able to avoid making costly mistakes and produce higher quality work.

      This example shows how the idiom "bounce something off someone" can be used in a professional context, specifically in a mentorship or apprenticeship setting. By bouncing her questions off her editor, Emily is able to learn more about the intricacies of writing and avoid making mistakes that could harm her reputation or relationships with clients. This allows her to produce higher quality work and improve her skills over time.

    • As a software developer, Tim often has ideas for new features or improvements. Before implementing these ideas, he likes to bounce them off his colleagues to see if they have any better ideas or identify potential problems that he may have missed. By getting feedback from his peers, Tim is able to produce better quality software that is more user-friendly and efficient.

      This example shows how the idiom "bounce something off someone" can be used in a collaborative context, specifically in a software development team. By bouncing his ideas off his colleagues, Tim is able to leverage their expertise and insights to produce a better outcome than he could have achieved on his own. This allows him to produce high-quality software that meets the needs of his users and clients.

    • I'm still unsure about my presentation for the upcoming meeting. Could you please bounce some ideas off me?

      When we say "bounce ideas off someone," we mean to share our thoughts and opinions with them and receive feedback in return. In this example, the speaker is seeking input from another person to help develop their ideas for the presentation.

    • I'm considering starting my own business, but I'm not sure where to begin. Can you bounce some potential strategies off me?

      As before, "bounce ideas off someone" refers to seeking input from another person. Here, however, the speaker is looking for advice on starting a business, rather than just for feedback on an existing concept.

    • I'm trying to come up with a creative way to market our product, but I'm drawing a blank. Do you mind if I bounce some ideas off you?

      Once again, "bounce ideas off someone" means sharing ideas with them for feedback. In this instance, the speaker is seeking assistance in generating marketing strategies for their product.

    • I have a list of potential areas for our company to expand into, but I'm not sure which ones would be most profitable. Can you help me bounce some options off you?

      Here, the speaker is looking for assistance from another person to help them narrow down a list of possibilities. The phrase "bounce options off you" implies that they are seeking input to help them make a decision.


    Conclusion

    The idiom "bounce something off someone" is used when seeking advice, approval, or sharing information with someone. It implies a casual and informal discussion to gather input or feedback before making a decision or taking action.

    Origin of "Bounce something off someone"

    The origin of this idiom can be traced back to the image of bouncing an idea or suggestion off someone as if it were a ball being thrown back and forth in a conversation. The use of "bounce" in this context conveys the back-and-forth exchange of thoughts and opinions, highlighting the collaborative and interactive nature of seeking advice or sharing information. This idiom is commonly used in both personal and professional settings to gather feedback and make informed decisions. Examples of usage can include phrases such as "I want to bounce this idea off you before I move forward" or "Let me bounce this off someone to see what they think."