At its peak the agency employed around 25,000 staff, but 5,000 posts are due to be cut by 2015 against the 2011-12 levels.

"I think we each did something that cut against our desire back there," he said.

Yet another example of their operations cutting against each other.

It was almost too easy for someone who'd cut his teeth against the Sothoii.

She could not help cutting herself against the proxy's limbs.

They are meeting places that cut against the isolation of modern life.

But I know enough not to cut against the grain.

The way they got business was by cutting rates and competing against established people.

"We like to cut against the conventional wisdom," he said.

Bradley's sweeping proposals also cut against the nature and history of the problem.