(1) There is a limit to the amount of pain we can bear.
(2) The team performed to the limit of its capabilities.
(3) She knew the limits of her power.

(1) She's not a political animal.
(2) The government which followed the election was a very different animal.
(3) animal desires/passion/instincts

(1) White has always been a symbol of purity in Western cultures.
(2) Mandela became a symbol of the anti-apartheid struggle.
(3) What is the chemical symbol for copper?

(1) garden tools
(2) a cutting tool
(3) power tools (= using electricity)

(1) a voluntary agreement
(2) Attendance on the course is purely voluntary.
(3) to pay voluntary contributions into a pension fund

(1) That's cheating in my book.
(2) She always does everything by the book.
(3) I'm in her good books at the moment because I cleared up the kitchen.

(1) She had money squirrelled away in various bank accounts.
(2) The squirrel stashes away nuts for winter.
(3) The squirrel leads up the tree as lightning.

(1) We outlined our proposals to the committee.
(2) They saw the huge building outlined against the sky.
(3) This is a brief outline of the events.

(1) A bunch of kids were hanging around outside.
(2) a kid of 15
(3) She's a bright kid.

(1) a cotton mill
(2) sewing cotton
(3) a cotton reel

(1) Now that he's been promoted he's in seventh heaven.
(2) I was the seventh child in a family of 11.
(3) A million people died, a seventh of the population.

(1) We set off once more, over a rough mountain track.
(2) The two men turned to watch the horses going round the track.
(3) ...the athletics track.

(1) Can you drive?
(2) Don't drive so fast!
(3) I drove to work this morning.

(1) I have a very good visual memory.
(2) the visual arts
(3) The building makes a tremendous visual impact.

(1) a mail-order catalogue (= a book showing goods for sale to be sent to people's homes)
(2) to consult the library catalogue
(3) An illustrated catalogue accompanies the exhibition.

(1) They went over budget (= spent too much money) .
(2) budget cuts
(3) tax cuts in this year's budget

(1) I hope it doesn't stain the carpet.
(2) This carpet stains easily.
(3) The juice from the berries stained their fingers red.

(1) The annual slaughter of wildlife in italy is horrific.
(2) The refugees were put in camps in italy before being resettled.
(3) Robinson was sent to italy to cover the 1990 World Cup.

(1) I used my thumbnail to tighten the screw on my lamp.
(2) Eddie parked his cycle against a lamp post and padlocked it.
(3) In the evenings we eat by the light of an oil lamp.

(1) industrial/civil/social/political/popular unrest
(2) There is growing unrest in the south of the country.
(3) The real danger is civil unrest in the east of the country...

(1) They start work at dawn .
(2) It's almost dawn.
(3) We arrived in Sydney as dawn broke (= as the first light could be seen) .

(1) The planet Jupiter may have no solid surface at all.
(2) The boat bumped against a solid object.
(3) She had refused all solid food.

(1) She stressed the importance of good teamwork.
(2) Today's complex buildings require close teamwork between the architect and the builders.
(3) Do you think our good teamwork comes from our star signs?

(1) He questioned Chrissie, and listened attentively to what she told him.
(2) She listened attentively while I poured out my problems.
(3) She listened attentively and set down every word he said.

(1) They were too poor to buy shoes for the kids.
(2) We aim to help the poorest families.
(3) It's among the poorer countries of the world.

(1) a leaking pipe
(2) The roof was leaking.
(3) The tank had leaked a small amount of water.

(1) Help yourself to a clean towel.
(2) a hand/bath towel (= a small/large towel)
(3) a beach towel (= a large towel used for lying on in the sun)

(1) On Capitol Hill, senators today appear to view the matter as something of a tempest in a teapot.
(2) Where does this teapot go?
(3) He dipped a metal spoon into the cavernous depths of the darkening teapot.

(1) A trade agreement was concluded between the two countries.
(2) They concluded a treaty with Turkey.
(3) ‘Anyway, she should be back soon, ’ he concluded.

(1) Reports conflicted on how much of the aid was reaching the famine victims.
(2) These results conflict with earlier findings.
(3) conflicting emotions/interests/loyalties

(1) to have/hold/call/attend a meeting
(2) a committee/staff meeting
(3) What time is the meeting?

(1) After the earthquake, the people set about rebuilding their homes.
(2) He rebuilt the engine using parts from cars that had been scrapped.
(3) When she lost her job, she had to rebuild her life completely.

(1) Thank you─you're a real gentleman.
(2) He's no gentleman!
(3) Ladies and gentlemen! Can I have your attention, please?

(1) We have lived in the same house for twenty years.
(2) Our children go to the same school as theirs.
(3) She's still the same fun-loving person that I knew at college.

(1) a hen pheasant
(2) battery hens
(3) a small flock of laying hens

(1) a coal cellar
(2) ...the restaurant's extensive wine cellar.
(3) The box of papers had been stored in a cellar at the family home.

(1) the temptation of easy profits
(2) to give way to/yield to temptation
(3) I couldn't resist the temptation to open the letter.

(1) Don't look so worried!
(2) I'm not worried about her─she can take care of herself.
(3) Doctors are worried about the possible spread of the disease.

(1) loud laughter
(2) a deafeningly loud bang
(3) She spoke in a very loud voice.

(1) before lunch
(2) the day before yesterday
(3) The year before last he won a gold medal, and the year before that he won a silver.