throwing the embroidered ball (traditional Zhuang flirting game at festivals)
(fig.) to make overtures
to court
Definitions (Wiktionary)
verb, historical, of a woman
to throw an embroidered ball from a high place (a method for a woman to find a husband in ancient times; the man that catches the embroidered ball could marry the woman and become her husband)
Examples (粵典–words.hk)
Cantonese
抛绣球（招亲）
拋繡球（招親）
throwing a ceremonial ball (to determine the groom of a young woman)