The word "overtures" is correct and usable in written English
It can be used to refer to an act or statement that is intended to begin a discussion or a negotiation, typically in order to achieve a particular goal. For example, "The warring nations made overtures for peace in an attempt to end the conflict."
But their comments were only the most blatant overtures among a series of thinly-veiled pitches for the party's nomination to take on a Democrat for the job of commander-in-chief in November.
They arose not from short-term electoral strategies, let alone from friendly overtures to media barons and banks, but from citizens' movements that began, in some cases, 50 years ago.
Sturgeon's overtures are designed to cement the SNP's 17-point lead in Scottish opinion polls, particularly among ex-Labour voters, but also to make it far harder for Miliband to reject SNP support in the Commons.
Serbia is one of several central and eastern European countries to make overtures to Russia in recent months, and Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic have notably opposed EU sanctions over Russia's support for separatists in eastern Ukraine.
It remains to be seen who will be at its helm, with presenters Richard Hammond and James May tipped not to return despite multi-million overtures from the BBC for them to present it alongside a different guest presenter each week.
The following year he was in heady if duller company in Stanley Kubrick's Spartacus, playing Antoninus, the handsome slave who flees from the overtures of his master, Laurence Olivier.
The UAE, along with other Gulf states, have been being making friendly overtures to Iran following the election of that country's new president and the prospect of a deal on its nuclear programme.
Le Guen described Murray's overtures as having "such force, such charisma and enthusiasm, that it gave it an extra dimension... He's the kind of guy who can't leave you indifferent".
Paris Saint-Germain have turned to Fabio Capello to be their manager next season, after André Villas-Boas resisted their overtures to remain loyal to Tottenham Hotspur.
They boasted in public houses about what a joy it was to "sort out the Commies" and, flaunting their swollen pay packets, made overtures – often distressingly successful – to local girls.
What is significant in this case is that Desmond has turned his back on overtures from the Conservative party.
