(1) a fall in academic standards
(2) We aim to maintain high standards of customer care.
(3) The standard of this year's applications is very low.

(1) Cuba gained independence from Spain in 1898.
(2) independence celebrations
(3) the first elections since independence

(1) a gymnastics competition
(2) (figurative) mental/verbal gymnastics (= quick or clever thinking or use of words)
(3) They are the only ones whose brains are supple enough for the mental gymnastics required.

(1) young babies
(2) a young country
(3) Caterpillars eat the young leaves of this plant.

(1) carpenter: Well, I knew some idiot would ask me. So I measured it!
(2) The carpenter glued two pieces of wood together.
(3) The carpenter ran his rule over the shed and sized it up at once.

(1) serious injury/injuries
(2) minor injuries
(3) to sustain injuries/an injury

(1) ...chopped walnuts.
(2) Please quote us your lowest price CIF Hamburg for 10 MT of walnut meat.
(3) A mix of those seemingly crafted products made of is indeed walnut skin's own natural effect.

(1) swift action
(2) a swift decision
(3) The White House was swift to deny the rumours.

(1) a woman of great wisdom
(2) words of wisdom
(3) I question the wisdom of giving a child so much money.

(1) A sensor channels the light signal along an optical fibre.
(2) Money for the project will be channelled through local government.
(3) He channels his aggression into sport.

(1) He stood up, stretched and yawned.
(2) A crevasse yawned at their feet.
(3) (figurative)There's a yawning gap between rich and poor.

(1) Only a small minority of students is/are interested in politics these days.
(2) minority shareholders in the bank
(3) the rights of ethnic/racial minorities

(1) uncle Ian
(2) I'm going to visit my uncle.
(3) I've just become an uncle (= because your brother/sister has had a baby) .

(1) He looked at himself in the mirror .
(2) a rear-view mirror (= in a car, so that the driver can see what is behind)
(3) (British English)a wing mirror (= on the side of a car)

(1) They'll eat almost anything.
(2) almost no one (= hardly anyone) believed him.
(3) It's almost time to go.

(1) tourists from every corner of the globe
(2) ...a globe of the world...
(3) Three large globes stand on the floor.

(1) If you suspect a gas leak, do not strike a match or even turn on an electric light.
(2) suspecting nothing, he walked right into the trap.
(3) I began to suspect (that) they were trying to get rid of me.

(1) I did it because he told me to.
(2) Just because I don't complain, people think I'm satisfied.
(3) They are here because of us.

(1) She seemed neither surprised nor worried.
(2) He wasn't there on Monday. nor on Tuesday, for that matter.
(3) (formal)Not a building nor a tree was left standing.

(1) Finance is Mark's area.
(2) The big growth area of recent years has been in health clubs.
(3) the area of a triangle

(1) I've spent all my money already.
(2) She spent £100 on a new dress.
(3) The company has spent thousands of pounds updating their computer systems.

(1) Do you have a fax?
(2) Can you send it to me by fax ?
(3) What is your fax number?

(1) You can claim back your travelling/travel expenses.
(2) We were taken out for a meal at the company's expense.
(3) He built up the business at the expense of his health.

(1) Those who go to church without having breakfast have brunch also.
(2) With LIVE music shaking your kid's brunch, it's just a day where children get their wish!
(3) They eat much the same thing for brunch every day.

(1) a danger/warning/distress etc. signal
(2) At an agreed signal they left the room.
(3) The siren was a signal for everyone to leave the building.

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

(1) Her legs were beginning to tire.
(2) He has made a good recovery but still tires easily.
(3) He went to Harvard─as he never tires of reminding us.

(1) Please reuse your envelopes.
(2) Try where possible to reuse paper.
(3) Verification reuse methodology can solve this problem effectively.

(1) a long search for the murder weapon
(2) Detectives carried out a thorough search of the building.
(3) She went into the kitchen in search of (= looking for) a drink.

(1) She sat and stared at the letter in front of her.
(2) May I sit here?
(3) Just sit still!

(1) The government will not negotiate with terrorists.
(2) We have been negotiating for more pay.
(3) a strong negotiating position

(1) There were fine wrinkles around her eyes.
(2) She wrinkled up her nose in distaste.
(3) He wrinkled his brow in concentration.

(1) ...cod liver oil capsules...
(2) You can also take red ginseng in convenient tablet or capsule form.
(3) They first implanted capsules into the animals' brains...

(1) a trendy haircut
(2) What do you think of my new haircut?
(3) I see you've had a haircut.

(1) Be careful not to confuse quantity with quality.
(2) His comments only served to confuse the issue further.
(3) People often confuse me and my twin sister.

(1) Anne was French by birth but lived most of her life in Italy.
(2) a woman of noble birth
(3) She died shortly after giving birth.

(1) a romantic comedy
(2) slapstick comedy
(3) He didn't appreciate the comedy of the situation.

(1) ‘How many do you need? ’ ‘A lot. ’
(2) Have some more cake. There's lots left.
(3) She still has an awful lot (= a very large amount) to learn.

(1) to suck the juice from an orange
(2) She was noisily sucking up milk through a straw.
(3) She sucked on a mint.

(1) to set off at a steady/gentle/leisurely pace
(2) Congestion frequently reduces traffic to walking pace .
(3) The ball gathered pace as it rolled down the hill.