An unpromising beginning for a fraudulent career.

She says the process proves that a good piece can result from unpromising beginnings.

From such rigid, uncompromising and unpromising beginnings, Glass has created a sound language of great eloquence and diversity.

From these unpromising beginnings, the separate order of gentlemen evolved very slowly.

A solicitation on the street was an unpromising beginning, but not insuperable.

All in all, I can report that from an unpromising beginning, the Iotians are making this work.

But she decided to concentrate on what he was doing after their unpromising beginning and furrowed her forehead in thought.

Despite the unpromising beginning wrought by British actions and Chinese reactions, there are grounds for optimism.

From this unpromising beginning, he raised an army that managed to hold large parts of eastern China under its rule for some eight years (1856-64).

Gradually this unpromising beginning was transformed into a quiet, conservative, strongly class-conscious society.