opinion poll
Definition
A survey conducted to gauge the views, feelings, or preferences of a specific population regarding a particular subject, political candidate, or policy.
A statistical tool often used to predict the future, which is frequently as accurate as reading a tea leaf in a hurricane.
Examples
The government is thrilled that their approval rating is up by one percent, ignoring the fact that the margin of error represents the entire population of a small village.
He spent most of his budget on an opinion poll, only to realize the public's primary opinion was that he should stop wasting money on opinion polls.
It is truly impressive how the administration manages to navigate these polls, treating every statistical dip as a mere suggestion rather than a symptom of reality.