(1) nobody knew what to say.
(2) She rose from being a nobody to become a superstar.
(3) They were shut away in a little room where nobody could overhear...

(1) the Royal family (= the children and close relations of the king or queen)
(2) I always think of you as one of the family .
(3) Some families have farmed in this area for hundreds of years.

(1) a thorough knowledge of the subject
(2) The police carried out a thorough investigation.
(3) She's very thorough and conscientious.

(1) to hit a home run
(2) We've hit our ball over the fence!
(3) He was hit by a sniper.

(1) several letters arrived this morning.
(2) He's written several books about India.
(3) several more people than usual came to the meeting.

(1) She was very pleased with her exam results.
(2) The boss should be pleased with you.
(3) I'm really pleased that you're feeling better.

(1) an athletic figure/build
(2) a tall, slim athletic girl
(3) an athletic club/coach

(1) He has the house to himself during the week.
(2) He managed to repair the car by himself.
(3) He lives all by himself.

(1) colourful postcards of California
(2) Send us a postcard from Venice!
(3) Send your answers on a postcard to the above address.

(1) written in ink
(2) a pen and ink drawing
(3) different coloured inks

(1) They had to think of a trick to get past the guards.
(2) The kids are always playing tricks on their teacher.
(3) One of the problems of old age is that your memory can start to play tricks on you.

(1) His teachers are full of praise for the progress he's making.
(2) She wrote poems in praise of freedom.
(3) His latest movie has won high praise from the critics.

(1) a pint/litre of milk
(2) a bottle/carton of milk
(3) fresh/dried/powdered milk

(1) to lay a carpet
(2) a bedroom carpet
(3) a carpet of snow

(1) The loft can be accessed by a ladder.
(2) The police gained access through a broken window.
(3) Students must have access to good resources.

(1) It was no hardship to walk home on such a lovely evening.
(2) economic/financial, etc. hardship
(3) People suffered many hardships during that long winter.

(1) This time they collaborated on the Amir high top sneaker.
(2) The Blue sneaker began to tell the Blue Shoe all about himself.
(3) The sneaker comes with orange suede and white mesh on the upper.

(1) I could hear voices in the next room.
(2) to speak in a deep/soft/loud/quiet, etc. voice
(3) ‘I promise, ’ she said in a small voice (= a quiet, shy voice) .

(1) skilled personnel
(2) sales/technical/medical/security/military, etc. personnel
(3) the personnel department/manager

(1) She's looking for a part-time job.
(2) to study on a part-time basis
(3) part-time workers

(1) an insurance agent
(2) Our agent in New York deals with all US sales.
(3) a theatrical/literary agent

(1) road construction
(2) Work has begun on the construction of the new airport.
(3) Our new offices are still under construction (= being built) .

(1) It's hard to find good pineapples at this time of year.
(2) He styled his poem doggerel.
(3) I can knock off a poem in half an hour.

(1) I'd like a room a nice view a balcony.
(2) Scenic view balcony, multiple window design, unique den in small apartment, etc.
(3) Grain in Ear Festival today, and I enjoy the balcony with its own beans planted vegetables.

(1) They're both uncertain about what to do.
(2) I'm still uncertain of my feelings for him.
(3) Our future looks uncertain.

(1) It was obvious to everyone that the child had been badly treated.
(2) It's obvious from what she said that something is wrong.
(3) I know you don't like her but try not to make it so obvious.

(1) a jet aircraft/fighter/airliner
(2) The accident happened as the jet was about to take off.
(3) The pipe burst and jets of water shot across the room.

(1) a useful gadget
(2) It can be useful to write a short summary of your argument first.
(3) He might be useful to us.

(1) There is now intense competition between schools to attract students.
(2) We are in competition with four other companies for the contract.
(3) We won the contract in the face of stiff competition .

(1) a bamboo grove
(2) a bamboo chair
(3) bamboo shoots (= young bamboo plants that can be eaten)

(1) 10 cubed is 1 000.
(2) Cut the meat into cubes.
(3) The cube of 5 (5^3) is 125 (5×5×5).

(1) She gave him a quick glance.
(2) These cakes are very quick and easy to make.
(3) Would you like a quick drink?

(1) the 1987 stock market crash
(2) I was terrified that the plane would crash.
(3) We're going to crash, aren't we?

(1) Education should be a universal right and not a privilege.
(2) You can enjoy all the benefits and privileges of club membership.
(3) As a member of the nobility, his life had been one of wealth and privilege.

(1) (British English)to have backache/a backache
(2) (North Amercian English)to have a backache
(3) I feel terrible. I've got a headache, backache and a sore throat.

(1) Dr Amid was assisted by a young asian nurse.
(2) Chinese good athletes won 148 gold medals in the 11 th asian Games.
(3) The asian Games meet every four years.

(1) Cutting our costs is the only way forward .
(2) We are not getting any further forward with the discussion.
(3) The project will go forward (= continue) as planned.

(1) ...the reviewer for the Times Literary Supplement.
(2) According to the reviewer, Somek gets it wrong in a number of ways.
(3) The reviewer mercilessly took apart the young writer's first novel.

(1) a quietly spoken man
(2) Kedesun is an agent that provides air conditioning, industry refrigeration, liquid control products.
(3) Without a word spoken, he hurried away, with his hoary head bending low.

(1) a skilled engineer/negotiator/craftsman
(2) She is highly skilled at dealing with difficult customers.
(3) a shortage of skilled labour (= people who have had training in a skill)