to sound sb out
... to sound sb out 套问; 套问 to sound the retreat 鸣金; 鸣金 to speak fine sounding but empty words (idiom) 唱高调; 唱高调 ...
hold-up problem
Asked the floor view
jacket water heater problem
套问,指不让对方察觉自己的目的,拐弯抹角地盘问。