(1) the economic problems confronting the country
(2) The government found itself confronted by massive opposition.
(3) She knew that she had to confront her fears.

(1) a gloomy expression
(2) We sat in gloomy silence.
(3) a gloomy picture of the country's economic future

(1) an ingenious device
(2) ingenious ways of saving energy
(3) an ingenious cook

(1) [不可数名词]He didn't like the degree of sexual explicitness in the film.
(2) The report states explicitly that the system was to blame.
(3) a sexually explicit film

(1) to safeguard a person's interests
(2) to safeguard jobs
(3) The new card will safeguard the company against fraud.

(1) a straightforward process
(2) It's quite straightforward to get here.
(3) Let me put it more straightforwardly.

(1) the sole surviving member of the family
(2) My sole reason for coming here was to see you.
(3) This is the sole means of access to the building.

(1) He was too stubborn to admit that he was wrong.
(2) She can be as stubborn as a mule .
(3) stubborn pride

(1) Her lawyers say she should be compensated for the suffering she had been caused.
(2) He received a compensatory payment of $20 000.
(3) Nothing can compensate for the loss of a loved one.

(1) a relevant suggestion/question/point
(2) These comments are not directly relevant to this enquiry.
(3) Do you have the relevant experience?

(1) Joanna heard him bump into the table and curse again.
(2) I happened to bump into Mervyn Johns in the hallway.
(3) Actually, let's just read this little bit where you've made them bump into each other.

(1) The banks are set to merge next year.
(2) His department will merge with mine.
(3) The villages expanded and merged into one large town.

(1) students of moderate ability
(2) Even moderate amounts of the drug can be fatal.
(3) The team enjoyed only moderate success last season.

(1) Don't get upset─I was only teasing.
(2) I used to get teased about my name.
(3) to tease wool into strands

(1) He was voted the most promising new actor for his part in the movie.
(2) The weather doesn't look very promising.
(3) The day began promisingly with bright sunshine.

(1) cultural/gender/racial stereotypes
(2) He doesn't conform to the usual stereotype of the businessman with a dark suit and briefcase.
(3) the stereotypical image of feminine behaviour

(1) to apply for a visa
(2) an entry/tourist/transit/exit visa
(3) His visitor's visa expired.

(1) Shining with snug sunlight in Winter, the old man looks very cozy.
(2) Your home is really cozy.
(3) The bottom cloth increases the cozy touch with skin and prevents static electricity contact.

(1) the random killing of innocent people
(2) a random sample/selection (= in which each thing has an equal chance of being chosen)
(3) The information is processed in a random order.

(1) To ascribe opinions retrospectively is of course very dangerous.
(2) I would not ascribe vice to him.
(3) Scholars ascribe the unsigned painting to Rubens.

(1) He's prone to flit between subjects with amazing ease.
(2) This leaves fertile soil unprotected and prone to erosion.
(3) These plants are peculiarly prone to disease.

(1) His voice was full of reproach.
(2) The captain's behaviour is above/beyond reproach (= you cannot criticize it) .
(3) He listened to his wife's bitter reproaches.

(1) He was summoned to appear before the magistrates.
(2) In May 1688 he was urgently summoned to London.
(3) She summoned the waiter.

(1) They are now reaping the rewards of all their hard work.
(2) You'll soon begin to reap the benefits of being fitter...
(3) We are not in this to reap immense financial rewards.

(1) How can they justify paying such huge salaries?
(2) Her success had justified the faith her teachers had put in her.
(3) The Prime Minister has been asked to justify the decision to Parliament.

(1) I wouldn't have dared to defy my teachers.
(2) Hundreds of people today defied the ban on political gatherings.
(3) a political move that defies explanation

(1) She's been gossiping about you.
(2) I can't stand here gossiping all day.
(3) a gossipy letter/neighbour

(1) Violence intensified during the night.
(2) The opposition leader has intensified his attacks on the government.
(3) Britain is intensifying its efforts to secure the release of the hostages...

(1) She was taken to hospital after her collapse at work.
(2) the collapse of share prices/the dollar/the market
(3) a state of mental/nervous collapse

(1) Better not tangle with the censors. They're very vindictive.
(2) I shouldn't tangle with Peter, he is bigger than me.
(3) If I were you, I wouldn't tangle with them.

(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) They issued a warrant for her arrest.
(2) an arrest warrant
(3) They had a warrant to search the house.

(1) Flu is highly infectious.
(2) (figurative)infectious laughter
(3) I'm still infectious.

(1) Careless drivers hazard other people's lives as well as their own.
(2) ‘Is it Tom you're going with? ’ she hazarded.
(3) Would you like to hazard a guess ?

(1) Students over 25 fall into a different category .
(2) The results can be divided into three main categories .
(3) This book clearly falls into the category of fictionalised autobiography...

(1) Sam cautioned him against making a hasty decision.
(2) The government cautioned that pay increases could lead to job losses.
(3) Suspects must be cautioned before any questions are asked.

(1) He was a paradox─a loner who loved to chat to strangers.
(2) It is a curious paradox that professional comedians often have unhappy personal lives.
(3) ‘More haste, less speed ’ is a well-known paradox.

(1) He is motivated entirely by self-interest.
(2) She's very good at motivating her students.
(3) The plan is designed to motivate employees to work more efficiently.

(1) a vulgar man
(2) vulgar decorations
(3) She found their laughter and noisy games coarse and rather vulgar.

(1) The Romans were the first to utilize concrete as a building material.
(2) The resources at our disposal could have been better utilized.
(3) Sound engineers utilize a range of techniques to enhance the quality of the recordings...