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Examples

  • That 1965 campaign, like the present one, was fought against a background of high European drama – amid the "empty-chair crisis", so called because of France's boycott of Brussels's institutions, which set those favouring the extension of supranational powers against a Paris determined to secure a deal protecting its farmers.

    Nicolas Sarkozy: Is France falling in love again? | Peter Beaumont 2011

  • He later told the Huffington Post he was unsure of doing the "empty-chair routine" as candidates in other races have suggested.

    Tyler Kingkade: Matt Campbell Slams Steve King -- Says He Practices McCarthyism Tyler Kingkade 2010

  • He later told the Huffington Post he was unsure of doing the "empty-chair routine" as candidates in other races have suggested.

    Tyler Kingkade: Matt Campbell Slams Steve King -- Says He Practices McCarthyism 2010

  • Demonstrators were showing up at his rallies in chicken costumes, and Clinton ran the old empty-chair game, showing up at the site of the first scheduled debate in East Lansing, Mich., to wait for Bush.

    A SILVER BULLET 2008

  • From an entirely different theoretical orientation, gestalt therapists (Fodor, 1987; Hatcher & Himelstein, 1976) have devised any number of ingenious therapeutic permutations (the “empty-chair” technique, or enactive awareness exercises, for example) intended to transport the individual beyond the boundaries of ordinary experience into realms where the unexpected may emerge or where hidden aspects of the self can be viewed.

    Planned Short-Term Treatment RICHARD A. WELLS 1994

  • Mr. Whittingdale, a Conservative member of Parliament, also declared that he was fully prepared to "empty-chair" the Murdochs by holding their portion of the hearing without them, using two chairs as stand-ins.

    NYT > Home Page By SARAH LYALL 2011

  • Mr. Whittingdale, a Conservative member of Parliament, also declared that he was fully prepared to "empty-chair" the Murdochs by holding their portion of the hearing without them, using two chairs as stand-ins.

    NYT > Home Page By SARAH LYALL 2011

  • Mr. Whittingdale, a Conservative member of Parliament, also declared that he was fully prepared to "empty-chair" the Murdochs by holding their portion of the hearing without them, using two chairs as stand-ins.

    NYT > Home Page By SARAH LYALL 2011

  • G20: Nicolas Sarkozy's empty-chair threat shows EU fails to realise times have changed with

    Politics news, UK and world political comment and analysis | guardian.co.uk Hella Pick 2010

  • G20: Sarkozy's empty-chair threat shows EU fails to realise times have changed Michael White: G20 aftermath: cheesy Berlusconi, classy Queen and regal Michelle Obama

    The Guardian World News 2009

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  • empty-chair, v.

    BBC - The Editors, 30 March 2007:

    His film had been an exhortation to programmes like Newsnight aggressively to empty-chair politicians who refuse to debate.

    April 20, 2015

  • empty-chair, v.

    The Guardian, 6 March 2015:

    BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Sky welcome prime minister’s ‘final offer’ but move could result in PM being ‘empty chaired’

    April 20, 2015