noun
sounding each other out; probing each other
Describes a situation where two or more parties cautiously try to gauge each other's intentions, opinions, or stance, often in negotiations or delicate social interactions.
初めての会議では、お互いに探り合いが続いた。
At the first meeting, they kept sounding each other out.
交渉の席では、しばらく探り合いが続くだろう。
At the negotiation table, there will probably be a period of probing each other.
探る is the base verb meaning 'to probe' or 'to sound out'; 探り合い is the mutual noun form.
駆け引き implies strategic maneuvering or bargaining, while 探り合い focuses more on mutual information gathering and cautious probing.
Compound of 探り (saguri, 'probing', the continuative form of 探る) and 合い (ai, 'mutual', from 合う).