There is much talk of green shoots and perhaps an improvement in the next 12 months.

"The green shoots of a sales recovery would be a nice start."

Look around at all the green shoots of political renewal.

He stared down at the little green shoots coming up.

He looked across the green shoots of onion at her.

One really does begin to wonder whether there are any signs of green shoots in the economy.

In a few days, or perhaps longer, the green shoot should start to push up and the leaves will spread.

Small green shoots began to appear in the fresh earth.

Soon you'll see little green shoots coming up - young plants, they are.

Then she noticed some small green shoots coming up through the grass.