(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) I didn't mean to startle you.
(2) The explosion startled the horse.
(3) I was startled by her question.

(1) Eat up your greens.
(2) She was dressed all in green.
(3) The room was decorated in a combination of greens and blues.

(1) Swimming is good exercise.
(2) I don't get much exercise sitting in the office all day.
(3) The mind needs exercise as well as the body.

(1) A picture of flowers hung on the wall.
(2) The children were drawing pictures of their pets.
(3) She wanted a famous artist to paint her picture (= a picture of herself) .

(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 script was good, but those guys butchered it.
(2) He owns the butcher's in the main street.
(3) Our people are being butchered in their homes.

(1) Hopes of reaching an agreement seem to be fading away.
(2) His voice faded to a whisper (= gradually became quieter) .
(3) The laughter faded away.

(1) She was not used to mixing with people of high social rank.
(2) He rose through the ranks to become managing director.
(3) He eventually rose to the rank of captain...

(1) The action of the novel shifts from Paris to London.
(2) Lydia shifted uncomfortably in her chair.
(3) He shifted his gaze from the child to her.

(1) a sea breeze
(2) The flowers were gently swaying in the breeze .
(3) A light breeze was blowing.

(1) Now is a good time to invest in the property market.
(2) He invested his life savings in his daughter's business.
(3) The government has invested heavily in public transport.

(1) You're probably right.
(2) It'll probably be OK.
(3) It was the best known and probably the most popular of her songs.

(1) The yard was overgrown with weeds.
(2) I wish I could give up the weed (= stop smoking).
(3) I've been weeding the flower beds.

(1) adventure stories
(2) a sense/spirit of adventure
(3) her adventures travelling in Africa

(1) the establishment of diplomatic relations between the countries
(2) The speaker announced the establishment of a new college.
(3) young people rebelling against the establishment

(1) to be paid/rewarded handsomely
(2) a handsomely produced book
(3) a handsomely dressed man

(1) I bought some new clothes for the trip.
(2) to put on/take off your clothes
(3) Bring a change of clothes with you.

(1) Can you recommend a good hotel?
(2) I recommend the book to all my students.
(3) She was recommended for the post by a colleague.

(1) a container ship (= one designed to transport such containers)
(2) Food will last longer if kept in an airtight container.
(3) ...stainless steel or glass containers.

(1) illegal immigrants/aliens
(2) It's illegal to drive through a red light.
(3) an illegally parked car

(1) I realise that an englishman who generalises about Ireland invites trouble.
(2) I was astonished that he was not an englishman.
(3) She stared thoughtfully at the englishman across the table.

(1) blast for prison governors in judge's report
(2) The party was a blast.
(3) We had a blast at the party.

(1) Are you displeased with my work?
(2) She was not displeased at the effect she was having on the young man.
(3) His remarks were clearly not displeasing to her.

(1) The boss often made her work twelve or thirteen hours a day.
(2) Beijing is thirteen hours ahead of New York.
(3) He began to learn English age of thirteen.

(1) two years of severe drought
(2) one of the worst droughts on record
(3) drought and famines have killed up to two million people here.

(1) to receive an old-age/a retirement pension
(2) a disability/widow's pension
(3) a state pension

(1) to arouse sb's interest/curiosity/anger
(2) Her strange behaviour aroused our suspicions.
(3) The whole community was aroused by the crime.

(1) Just say yes or no.
(2) ‘Are you ready? ’ ‘no, I'm not. ’
(3) Sorry, the answer's no.

(1) I didn't give Reid all the details yet — I'll fill him in...
(2) He filled her in on Wilbur Kantor's visit.
(3) Vice-presidents' wives would fill in for first ladies.

(1) Special programmes of study are tailored to the needs of specific groups.
(2) Most travel agents are prepared to tailor travel arrangements to meet individual requirements.
(3) We can tailor the program to the patient's needs.

(1) Several presidents attended the funeral.
(2) the president of the United States
(3) president Bush is due to visit the country next month.

(1) a rock/jazz band
(2) She's a singer with a band.
(3) a military band

(1) You'll soon be feeling your old self again (= feeling well or happy again) .
(2) He's not his usual happy self this morning.
(3) Only with a few people could she be her real self (= show what she was really like rather than what she pretended to be) .

(1) their parties are always fun.
(2) Which is their house?
(3) If anyone calls, ask for their number so I can call them back.

(1) the local rag
(2) rag week
(3) The children were dressed in rags.

(1) Anybody can see that it's wrong.
(2) The exercises are so simple that almost anyone can do them.
(3) She wasn't anyone before she got that job.

(1) an evening/wedding gown
(2) a graduation gown
(3) a surgeon's gown

(1) to roar with laughter
(2) tears/gales/peals/shrieks of laughter
(3) to burst/dissolve into laughter

(1) The crisis had a negative effect on trade.
(2) The whole experience was definitely more positive than negative.
(3) Scientists have a fairly negative attitude to the theory.