(1) absolute power/authority
(2) an absolute ruler/monarchy (= one with no limit to their power)
(3) Although prices are falling in absolute terms , energy is still expensive.

(1) She refuses to acknowledge the need for reform.
(2) a generally acknowledged fact
(3) I did not acknowledge that he had done anything wrong.

(1) Everyone was assembled at the appointed time .
(2) They have appointed a new head teacher at my son's school.
(3) She has recently been appointed to the committee.

(1) He's a giant of a man.
(2) the multinational oil giants
(3) literary giants

(1) Nothing breeds success like success.
(2) Fear of failure was bred into him at an early age.
(3) Labradors and other large breeds of dog

(1) She gazed at him in amazement.
(2) He sat for hours just gazing into space .
(3) He met her gaze (= looked at her while she looked at him) .

(1) to die of/from starvation
(2) Millions will face starvation next year as a result of the drought.
(3) a starvation diet (= one in which you do not have much to eat)

(1) The school has a reputation for high standards of discipline.
(2) Strict discipline is imposed on army recruits.
(3) She keeps good discipline in class.

(1) There is very little likelihood of that happening.
(2) In all likelihood (= very probably) the meeting will be cancelled.
(3) The likelihood is that (= it is likely that) unemployment figures will continue to fall.

(1) two weeks/three days/a few hours beforehand
(2) I wish we'd known about it beforehand.
(3) How could she tell beforehand that I was going to go out?...

(1) tropical fish
(2) tropical Africa
(3) a tropical island

(1) Look it up in the index.
(2) Author and subject indexes are available on a library database.
(3) the cost-of-living index

(1) They're very odd people.
(2) There's something odd about that man.
(3) It's most odd that (= very odd that) she hasn't written.

(1) It'seems to me a most marvelous book.
(2) The marvelous acting compensated for the play's weak script.
(3) Lin Hong : Look at this page. All these marvelous gadgets for a bath!

(1) All flights have been cancelled because of bad weather.
(2) Don't forget to cancel the newspaper (= arrange for it not to be delivered) before going away.
(3) to cancel a policy/subscription

(1) a tremendous explosion
(2) A tremendous amount of work has gone into the project.
(3) It was a tremendous experience.

(1) I leaned back in my chair.
(2) The tower is leaning dangerously.
(3) A man was leaning out of the window.

(1) He put his arm around her waist.
(2) She was paralysed from the waist down (= in the area below her waist) .
(3) The workmen were stripped to the waist (= wearing no clothes on the top half of their bodies) .

(1) a remote beach
(2) one of the remotest areas of the world
(3) The farmhouse is remote from any other buildings.

(1) The corresponding relations between concept algebra and Ontology Web Language ( OWL ) are analyzed.
(2) Schools are urged to prepare more students to algebra by the eighth grade.
(3) The boy haven't absorb arithmetic, not to mention algebra.

(1) The commission is calling for a global ban on whaling.
(2) the company's domestic and global markets
(3) We need to take a more global approach to the problem.

(1) modest improvements/reforms
(2) He charged a relatively modest fee.
(3) a modest little house

(1) to reveal a secret
(2) Details of the murder were revealed by the local paper.
(3) The report reveals (that) the company made a loss of £20 million last year.

(1) He lost control of his emotions.
(2) They expressed mixed emotions at the news.
(3) emotions are running high (= people are feeling very excited, angry, etc.) .

(1) He suffered from headaches and loss of appetite .
(2) The walk gave me a good appetite.
(3) Don't spoil your appetite by eating between meals.

(1) I got to the stage where I wasn't coping any more.
(2) He wasn't able to cope with the stresses and strains of the job.
(3) Desert plants are adapted to cope with extreme heat.

(1) Troops invaded on August 9th that year.
(2) When did the Romans invade Britain?
(3) Demonstrators invaded the government buildings.

(1) She has always been encouraged to swim to build up the strength of her muscles...
(2) He threw it forward with all his strength...
(3) Something gave me the strength to overcome the difficulty...

(1) Do not disturb (= a sign placed on the outside of the door of a hotel room, office, etc.)
(2) She awoke early after a disturbed night.
(3) Don't disturb the papers on my desk.

(1) full of enthusiasm
(2) ‘I don't mind, ’ she said, without much enthusiasm.
(3) The news was greeted with a lack of enthusiasm by those at the meeting.

(1) Does it bother you that she earns more than you?
(2) It bothers me to think of her alone in that big house.
(3) Stop bothering me when I'm working.

(1) The judges awarded both finalists equal points.
(2) The judges awarded equal points to both finalists.
(3) He was awarded damages of £50 000.

(1) (literary)The very name of the enemy struck terror into their hearts.
(2) a feeling of sheer/pure terror
(3) Her eyes were wild with terror.

(1) durable plastics
(2) negotiations for a durable peace
(3) [不可数名词]the durability of gold

(1) At last they were able to feel secure about the future.
(2) She finished the match, secure in the knowledge that she was through to the next round.
(3) a secure job/income

(1) Patients with the disease should be isolated.
(2) He was immediately isolated from the other prisoners.
(3) This decision will isolate the country from the rest of Europe.

(1) bacterial infections/growth
(2) Chlorine is added to kill bacteria.
(3) Wash everything thoroughly to avoid contamination with bacteria.

(1) Have you any comment to make about the cause of the disaster?
(2) She made helpful comments on my work.
(3) The director was not available for comment.

(1) The magician vanished in a puff of smoke.
(2) My glasses seem to have vanished.
(3) He vanished without trace .

(1) He led a life of virtue.
(2) She was certainly no paragon of virtue !
(3) Patience is not one of her virtues, I'm afraid.