(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) She plucked out a grey hair.
(2) expertly plucked eyebrows
(3) to pluck the strings of a violin

(1) An e-mail is already circulating amongst news staff calling for voluntary redundancies.
(2) He dodged amongst the seething crowds of men.
(3) He was sitting amongst a group of children, telling them a story.

(1) In modern Welsh, 'glas' means 'blue'...
(2) What does 'evidence' mean?...
(3) Do you mean me?...

(1) It's great to work with people who are on the same wavelength.
(2) Blue light has a shorter wavelength than red.
(3) Radio One has broadcast on this wavelength for years.

(1) Government troops were forced to withdraw.
(2) Both powers withdrew their forces from the region.
(3) She withdrew her hand from his.

(1) The windows had been bricked up.
(2) a brick wall
(3) They put their money into bricks and mortar.

(1) Polish banks can still take two or three weeks to clear a cheque...
(2) Sotomayor, the Cuban holder of the world high jump record, cleared 2.36 metres.
(3) After that they drove clear over to St Paul.

(1) a boat to/from the mainland
(2) The Hebrides are to the west of the Scottish mainland.
(3) [只用于名词前]mainland Greece

(1) I suggested that he rest, and sent him for an x-ray.
(2) The hospital staff held off taking Rosenbaum in for an x-ray.
(3) She was advised to have an abdominal x-ray.

(1) a railway carriage
(2) a horse-drawn carriage
(3) £16.95 including VAT and carriage

(1) I'm sure she doesn't want us horning in on her business.
(2) to honk your car horn
(3) (British English)to sound/toot your horn

(1) I've made a rough draft of the letter.
(2) This is only the first draft of my speech.
(3) the final draft (= the final version)

(1) He ignores the traditional christian dualism between body and soul.
(2) The magazine's aim is to discuss topical issues within a christian framework.
(3) These ceremonies were already part of pre-christian ritual in Mexico.

(1) My sister's always pinching me and it really hurts.
(2) He pinched the baby's cheek playfully.
(3) (figurative)She had to pinch herself to make sure she was not dreaming.

(1) a powerful car with a 170 horsepower engine
(2) ...a 300-horsepower engine.
(3) The engine has more than 4,000 horsepower.

(1) Neil's ability to utter banalities never ceased to amaze me.
(2) A look of utter confusion swept across his handsome face.
(3) These reports are total and utter rubbish.

(1) They were at the door to welcome us.
(2) It is a pleasure to welcome you to our home.
(3) a welcoming smile

(1) a tiny baby
(2) Only a tiny minority hold such extreme views.
(3) The living room is tiny...

(1) He had seldom seen a child with so much talent.
(2) She seldom, if ever, goes to the theatre.
(3) They seldom watch television these days.

(1) everyday objects such as cups and saucers
(2) Glass and plastic objects lined the shelves.
(3) Her sole object in life is to become a travel writer.

(1) Mozambique became independent in 1975.
(2) an independent inquiry/witness
(3) She went to a lawyer for some independent advice .

(1) Let's return to camp.
(2) to pitch/make camp (= put up tents)
(3) to break camp (= to take down tents)

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

(1) I put more coal on the fire.
(2) a lump of coal
(3) a coal fire

(1) Hollywood's golden boy
(2) Businesses have a golden opportunity to expand into new markets.
(3) golden memories

(1) He would not be allowed to leave the country...
(2) I simply couldn't bear to leave my little girl...
(3) He left school with no qualifications...

(1) ‘Everything's under control. ’ ‘famous last words! ’
(2) a famous artist/hotel
(3) the most famous lake in Italy

(1) She tied the newspapers in a bundle.
(2) He had to tie her hands together.
(3) They tied him to a chair with cable.

(1) a piece/sheet of paper
(2) a package wrapped in brown paper
(3) recycled paper

(1) Those cops beat the hell out of me.
(2) I patted the top of her head in the condescending way I knew irritated the hell out of her...
(3) I got the hell out of Glasgow and I can honestly say I will never go back.

(1) Liverpool won by three goals to one.
(2) United conceded two goals in the first half.
(3) a penalty goal

(1) to release a prisoner/hostage
(2) Firefighters took two hours to release the driver from the wreckage.
(3) He refused to release her arm.

(1) We were horrified at the conditions prevailing in local prisons.
(2) Those beliefs still prevail among certain social groups.
(3) Justice will prevail over tyranny.

(1) She cultivated an air of sophistication.
(2) It helps if you go out of your way to cultivate the local people.
(3) He purposely tried to cultivate good relations with the press.

(1) One tablet will purify a litre of water.
(2) Hindus purify themselves by bathing in the river Ganges.
(3) [不可数名词]a water purification plant

(1) to watch television/a football game
(2) He watched the house for signs of activity.
(3) He watched for signs of activity in the house.

(1) a pencil drawing
(2) I'll get a pencil and paper.
(3) She scribbled a note in pencil .

(1) The new road building programme has been ditched.
(2) He ditched his girlfriend.
(3) I decided to ditch the sofa bed.

(1) The robbery occurred in broad daylight, in a crowded street.
(2) The movie mixes broad humor with romance.
(3) a broad expanse of water