(1) It's a local custom .
(2) It is the custom in that country for women to marry young.
(3) It was her custom to rise early.

(1) a rural/an ideal/a beautiful/an idyllic, etc. setting
(2) It was the perfect setting for a wonderful Christmas.
(3) short stories with a contemporary setting

(1) needless suffering
(2) Banning smoking would save needless deaths.
(3) Many soldiers died needlessly.

(1) Breakfast is served between 7 and 10 a.m.
(2) serve the lamb with new potatoes and green beans.
(3) They served a wonderful meal to more than fifty delegates.

(1) a slightly different version
(2) We took a slightly more direct route.
(3) I knew her slightly.

(1) All aboard! (= the bus, boat, etc. is leaving soon)
(2) Welcome aboard! (= used to welcome passengers or a person joining a new organization, etc.)
(3) The plane crashed killing all 157 passengers aboard.

(1) A neon sign flashed on and off above the door.
(2) Lightning flashed in the distance.
(3) You can go for a 'rostrum' system, which sounds flash, but can be assembled quite cheaply.

(1) to settle a dispute/an argument/a matter
(2) It's time you settled your differences with your father.
(3) There is pressure on the unions to settle.

(1) Their prices compare favourably with those of their competitors.
(2) The critics compared his work to that of Martin Amis.
(3) My own problems seem insignificant compared with other people's.

(1) With the establishment of socialism market economy, it bring about new change to hospital ethics situation.
(2) The CPC is the core of leadership for the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics.
(3) We are in the process of building socialism.

(1) the president's political heirs
(2) the heir to the throne (= the person who will be the next king or queen)
(3) to be heir to a large fortune

(1) He reduced speed and turned sharp left.
(2) The train began to pick up speed (= go faster) .
(3) The car was gathering speed .

(1) Several avenues are open to us.
(2) We will explore every avenue until we find an answer.
(3) a hotel on Fifth avenue

(1) He turned abruptly and walked away...
(2) He turned to his publicist and jokingly asked, 'What's next?'…
(3) They turned their telescopes towards other nearby galaxies...

(1) She jabbed him with her elbow.
(2) He's fractured his elbow.
(3) The jacket was worn at the elbows.

(1) a jealous wife/husband
(2) He's only talking to her to make you jealous.
(3) She's jealous of my success.

(1) They had gone two days without food.
(2) He found the place without difficulty.
(3) She spoke without much enthusiasm.

(1) a prepositional phrase (= a preposition and the noun following it, for example at night or after breakfast )
(2) There is nothing in the rules of grammar to suggest that ending a sentence with a preposition is wrong.
(3) Notice that separation can be used with or a preposition to indicate separation.

(1) a dive to a depth of 18 metres
(2) The goalkeeper made a dive for the ball.
(3) Profits really took a dive last year.

(1) They were prepared to fight to the bitter end for their rights.
(2) A pint of bitter, please.
(3) gin with a dash of bitters

(1) a shepherd herding his flock
(2) They were herded together into trucks and driven away.
(3) We all herded on to the bus.

(1) He was still mourning his brother's death.
(2) They mourn the passing of a simpler way of life.
(3) Today we mourn for all those who died in two world wars.

(1) (British English also)She proposed that the book should be banned.
(2) The government proposed changes to the voting system.
(3) What would you propose?

(1) Fish are abundant in the lake.
(2) We have abundant evidence to prove his guilt.
(3) Birds are abundant in the tall vegetation.

(1) a terrible experience
(2) What terrible news!
(3) I've just had a terrible thought.

(1) The club has moved its meeting to saturday, January 22nd.
(2) He easily overcame Garcia, saturday's conqueror of Ernie Els.
(3) I've asked Mum to sit for us next saturday.

(1) We finished later than we had intended.
(2) I fully intended (= definitely intended) to pay for the damage.
(3) The writer clearly intends his readers to identify with the main character.

(1) She tried to stop the flow of blood from the wound.
(2) an endless flow of refugees into the country
(3) to improve traffic flow (= make it move faster)

(1) She is always polite and considerate towards her employees.
(2) It was very considerate of him to wait.
(3) I think he's the most charming, most considerate man I've ever known...

(1) Sorry to interrupt, but there's someone to see you.
(2) Would you mind not interrupting all the time?
(3) I hope I'm not interrupting you.

(1) a fault in the electronics
(2) the electronics industry
(3) ...Europe's three main electronics companies.

(1) We grew up together.
(2) together they climbed the dark stairs.
(3) Get all the ingredients together before you start cooking.

(1) The plane made a dive to a lower altitude.
(2) Snow leopards live at high altitudes .
(3) The athletes trained at altitude in Mexico City.

(1) where do you live?
(2) I wonder where they will take us to.
(3) where (= at what point) did I go wrong in my calculations?

(1) a tough childhood
(2) It was a tough decision to make.
(3) She's been having a tough time of it (= a lot of problems) lately.

(1) to borrow/save/spend/earn money
(2) How much money is there in my account?
(3) The money is much better in my new job.

(1) We're living apart now.
(2) Over the years, Rosie and I had drifted apart.
(3) She keeps herself apart from other people.

(1) He's getting a phone installed tomorrow.
(2) The hotel chain has recently installed a new booking system.
(3) I'll need some help installing the software.

(1) The latter point is the most important.
(2) the latter half of the year
(3) He presented two solutions. The latter seems much better.

(1) She touched him gently on the arm.
(2) He held the dirty rag at arm's length (= as far away from his body as possible) .
(3) He escaped with only a broken arm.