green shoots
Signs that something has been or is in the process of revitalizing. The phrase is often used to refer to such changes in the economy. "Shoots" refers to the sprouts of plants growing in soil. There have been no green shoots yet, so the recession continues.
green shoots
signs of reviving activity. The metaphor was popularized in Britain by its (over-optimistic) use in 1991 by the chancellor of the exchequer, Norman Lamont, to characterize signs of economic recovery.