(1) The paintings were sold for absurdly high prices.
(2) He has a good sense of the absurd.
(3) It was only later that she could see the absurdity of the situation.

(1) the Second World war
(2) the threat of (a) nuclear war
(3) to win/lose a/the war

(1) Their early arrival was just an accident.
(2) It is no accident that men fill most of the top jobs in nursing.
(3) an accident of birth/fate/history (= describing facts and events that are due to chance or circumstances)

(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) Please pay attention (= listen carefully) to what I am saying.
(2) Don't pay any attention to what they say (= don't think that it is important) .
(3) She tried to attract the waiter's attention .

(1) a technical/legal/scientific, etc. term
(2) a term of abuse
(3) ‘Register ’ is the term commonly used to describe different levels of formality in language.

(1) This article introduces the daily maintenance and matters needing attention of the video camera tape recorder.
(2) SUZY: And I will bring my textbook and a tape recorder.
(3) The GPC also functions an interface to output programs directly to a standard cassette tape recorder.

(1) rotting leaves
(2) The window frame had rotted away completely.
(3) Too much sugar will rot your teeth.

(1) We got the Post Office to redirect our mail when we moved.
(2) Controls were used to redistribute or redirect resources.
(3) It'should only take me a few minutes to redirect the power to the drive wheels.

(1) ...the British record holder for the 200m backstroke.
(2) He's the world record holder and the only man to break 9000 points in the decathlon.
(3) The human 100 m record holder is Usain Bolt of Jamaica. He's a relative slowpoke at 9.54 secs.

(1) The roads are choked up with traffic.
(2) to choke back tears/anger/sobs
(3) High prices have choked off demand.

(1) busloads of foreign tourists
(2) a popular tourist attraction/destination/resort
(3) the tourist industry/sector

(1) to behave/sleep badly
(2) badly paid/treated
(3) The kids took the dog's death very badly (= they were very unhappy) .

(1) She was sitting at the bar.
(2) (British English)I found David in the bar of the Red Lion (= a room in a pub where drinks are served) .
(3) We met at a bar called the Flamingo.

(1) They have arrested a number of leading opposition politicians.
(2) That politician is always triming.
(3) The politician defected from his own party and joined the opposition.

(1) an outspoken opponent of the leader
(2) outspoken comments
(3) She was outspoken in her criticism of the plan.

(1) a folk/love/pop, etc. song
(2) We sang a song together.
(3) The story is told through song and dance.

(1) At least ten people were killed in the crash.
(2) There were a lot of people at the party.
(3) Many young people are out of work.

(1) I had veal cutlets for supper.
(2) While you were busy making a deal, the dog stole a peace of veal.
(3) Marinate the veal in white wine for two hours.

(1) temporary relief from pain
(2) I'm looking for some temporary work .
(3) They had to move into temporary accommodation .

(1) swimming is a good form of exercise.
(2) swimming is probably the best form of exercise you can get.
(3) ...swimming lessons.

(1) Her questions about my private life embarrassed me.
(2) I didn't want to embarrass him by kissing him in front of his friends.
(3) It embarrassed her to meet strange men in the corridor at night.

(1) Good standing takes users easy; price makes users gratified and excellent after - sales service reassures users.
(2) If a writer does not go deep among the masses, he cannot expect to turn out good works.
(3) The machine works well.

(1) At least they died happy.
(2) He died a poor man.
(3) The old customs are dying.

(1) I think he misses her terribly. You might cheer him up...
(2) I wrote that song just to cheer myself up...
(3) We all went cheer up our basketball team.

(1) May I suggest a white wine with this dish, Sir?
(2) A solution immediately suggested itself to me (= I immediately thought of a solution) .
(3) I suggest (that) we go out to eat.

(1) He scanned the horizon for any sign of land.
(2) She scanned his face anxiously.
(3) I scanned the list quickly for my name.

(1) Before long, we were deep in conversation.
(2) Peter gave him a long deep look.
(3) Cal took a long, deep breath, struggling to control his own emotions...

(1) the fight for justice and liberty
(2) He had to endure six months' loss of liberty.
(3) The right to vote should be a liberty enjoyed by all.

(1) soft juicy pears
(2) The meat was tender and juicy.
(3) juicy gossip

(1) The beach is a mile away.
(2) The station is a few minutes' walk away.
(3) Christmas is still months away.

(1) Joe coped admirably with a difficult situation.
(2) Her dedication to her work was admirable.
(3) He made his points with admirable clarity.

(1) I was unaware of his existence until today.
(2) This is the oldest Hebrew manuscript in existence .
(3) Pakistan came into existence as an independent country after the war.

(1) He watched the smoke rise from his cigarette...
(2) The powdery dust rose in a cloud around him.
(3) Luther rose slowly from the chair...

(1) a bay mare
(2) The referee's decision left the crowd baying for blood (= threatening violence towards him) .
(3) a pack of baying hounds

(1) ...those working in the defence industry.
(2) ...future developments in medicine.
(3) ...the most spectacular painting in the collection.

(1) The telephone rang and Pat answered it.
(2) You can reserve seats over the telephone .
(3) I need to make a telephone call .

(1) They brought the children to Jesus and he blessed them.
(2) God bless you!
(3) The priest blessed the bread and wine.

(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) I want to buy a present for my mother and father.
(2) the relationship between mother and baby
(3) She's the mother of twins.