(1) They left under the cloak of darkness.
(2) The hills were cloaked in thick mist.
(3) The meeting was cloaked in mystery .

(1) The report highlights a number of instances of injustice.
(2) In most instances, there will be no need for further treatment.
(3) I would normally suggest taking time off work, but in this instance I'm not sure that would do any good.

(1) Such problems are a universal feature of old age.
(2) Agreement on this issue is almost universal.
(3) universal suffrage (= the right of all the people in a country to vote)

(1) She is an honour to the profession.
(2) The family honour is at stake.
(3) upholding the honour of your country

(1) a sunny day
(2) sunny weather
(3) The outlook for the weekend is hot and sunny.

(1) the high/low cost of housing
(2) A new computer system has been installed at a cost of £80 000.
(3) The plan had to be abandoned on grounds of cost.

(1) Record profits in the retail market indicate a boom in the economy.
(2) Research indicates that eating habits are changing fast.
(3) Kingston-upon-Thames, as the name indicates, is situated on the banks of the Thames.

(1) a fairly easy book
(2) a fairly typical reaction
(3) I know him fairly well, but I wouldn't say we were really close friends.

(1) Her trust in him was unfounded.
(2) a partnership based on trust
(3) It has taken years to earn their trust .

(1) a deadly weapon/disease
(2) deadly poison
(3) The cobra is one of the world's deadliest snakes.

(1) a bottle of whisky
(2) Scotch whisky
(3) highland whiskies

(1) fishing ports
(2) Rotterdam is a major port.
(3) a naval port

(1) In the heat of the argument he said a lot of things he regretted later.
(2) In the heat of the moment she forgot what she wanted to say (= because she was so angry or excited) .
(3) The chairman tried to take the heat out of the situation (= to make people calmer) .

(1) Which is the best route to take?
(2) Motorists are advised to find an alternative route.
(3) a coastal route

(1) malt/wine vinegar
(2) onions pickled in vinegar
(3) The vinegar packs a punch, you only need a little bit.

(1) Can you understand French?
(2) Do you understand the instructions?
(3) She didn't understand the form she was signing.

(1) dairy products/produce
(2) the dairy industry
(3) dairy cattle/farmers

(1) It was no hardship to walk home on such a lovely evening.
(2) economic/financial, etc. hardship
(3) People suffered many hardships during that long winter.

(1) a jazz band/club
(2) traditional/modern jazz
(3) jazz musicians

(1) The entire village was destroyed.
(2) I wasted an entire day on it.
(3) I have never in my entire life heard such nonsense!

(1) the Minister of State for external Affairs
(2) The building has been restored externally and internally.
(3) The university has many externally funded research projects.

(1) The road went in a huge loop around the lake.
(2) He tied a loop of rope around his arm.
(3) Make a loop in the string.

(1) Two halves of bitter, please.
(2) No goals were scored in the first half.
(3) We'll need to reduce the weight by half .

(1) a fish pond
(2) She chose a bench beside the duck pond and sat down.
(3) ...a garden pond.

(1) We hope to be there within the hour (= in less than an hour) .
(2) We're four hours ahead of New York (= referring to the time difference) .
(3) Chicago is two hours away (= it takes two hours to get there) .

(1) They were climbing up a narrow mountain road...
(2) I ran up the stairs and saw Alison lying at the top...
(3) He was up a ladder sawing off the tops of his apple trees...

(1) to be/look/seem/sound unhappy
(2) an unhappy childhood
(3) I didn't realize but he was deeply unhappy at that time.

(1) the Dutch delegation to the United Nations
(2) a delegation of teachers
(3) delegation of authority/decision-making

(1) What's the secret of your success?
(2) I didn't have much success in finding a job.
(3) Confidence is the key to success .

(1) Many scholars have argued thus.
(2) The universities have expanded, thus allowing many more people the chance of higher education.
(3) He is the eldest son and thus heir to the title.

(1) He was later discovered to be seriously ill.
(2) The singer was discovered while still at school.
(3) the discoverer of penicillin

(1) Their marriage is under great strain at the moment.
(2) These repayments are putting a strain on our finances.
(3) Relax, and let us take the strain (= do things for you) .

(1) He kissed her hungrily.
(2) They gazed hungrily at the display of food.
(3) His eyes had a wild hungry look in them.

(1) the battle of Waterloo
(2) to be killed in battle
(3) a gun battle

(1) He's not very good at arithmetic.
(2) a quick bit of mental arithmetic
(3) I think there's something wrong with your arithmetic.

(1) ...the twelfth anniversary of the April revolution.
(2) ...a twelfth-century church.
(3) She is entitled to a twelfth of the cash.

(1) They've gone swanning off to Paris for the weekend.
(2) She spends her time swanning around the world...
(3) The mother was widowed and had swanned off.

(1) a concrete path
(2) the garden path
(3) Follow the path through the woods.

(1) an electric motor
(2) He started the motor.
(3) motor vehicles

(1) She took an instant dislike to me.
(2) This account gives you instant access to your money.
(3) The show was an instant success.