(1) The little boy lagged behind his parents.
(2) We still lag far behind many of our competitors in using modern technology.
(3) Britain still lags behind most of Europe in its provisions for women who want time off to have babies...

(1) current English usage
(2) It's not a word in common usage .
(3) land usage

(1) Pug spied Harry Hopkins slouching alone in a gray suit by himself.
(2) Objective To evaluate the value contrast - enhanced gray - scale sonography in the diagnosis of renal pelvic carcinoma.
(3) His hair have turn gray.

(1) Light refreshments will be served during the break.
(2) (humorous) liquid refreshment (= alcoholic drink)
(3) In York we had a short stop for refreshment.

(1) honest to God, Mary, I'm not joking.
(2) I didn't mean it, honest!
(3) It's quite a struggle to make an honest living .

(1) Regular exercise strengthens the heart, thereby reducing the risk of heart attack.
(2) Our bodies can sweat, thereby losing heat by evaporation...
(3) A firm might sometimes sell at a loss to drive a competitor out of business, and thereby increase its market power.

(1) Wet weather always depresses me.
(2) It depresses me to see so many young girls smoking.
(3) The recession has depressed the housing market.

(1) maybe he'll come, maybe he won't.
(2) ‘Are you going to sell your house? ’ ‘maybe. ’
(3) It will cost two, maybe three hundred pounds.

(1) a flock of sheep
(2) sheep were grazing in the fields.
(3) ...grassland on which a flock of sheep were grazing.

(1) a space rocket
(2) The rocket was launched in March 1980.
(3) The idea took off like a rocket (= it immediately became popular) .

(1) The doctor examined her but could find nothing wrong.
(2) The students will be examined in all subjects at the end of term.
(3) You are only being examined on this semester's work.

(1) motivated by personal ambition
(2) She was intelligent but suffered from a lack of ambition.
(3) She never achieved her ambition of becoming a famous writer.

(1) beads of sweat
(2) She wiped the sweat from her face.
(3) By the end of the match, the sweat was pouring off him.

(1) a concrete floor
(2) concrete evidence/proposals/proof
(3) ‘It's only a suspicion, ’ she said, ‘nothing concrete. ’

(1) Are you absolutely certain about this?
(2) I'm not certain who was there.
(3) To my certain knowledge he was somewhere else at the time (= I am sure about it) .

(1) Do not disturb (= a sign placed on the outside of the door of a hotel room, office, etc.)
(2) She awoke early after a disturbed night.
(3) Don't disturb the papers on my desk.

(1) tuesday's notable gainer was Sony, which reached a high of 9,070 yen.
(2) The Governor will appear before the committee next tuesday.
(3) The five were expected to be hanged at 7 am on tuesday.

(1) Early booking is advisable.
(2) It is advisable to book early.
(3) Because of the popularity of the region, it is advisable to book hotels or camp sites in advance...

(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) a crossword puzzle
(2) a book of puzzles for children
(3) What puzzles me is why he left the country without telling anyone.

(1) Do not attempt to repair this yourself.
(2) The prisoners attempted an escape, but failed.
(3) I will attempt to answer all your questions.

(1) There are two restaurants on board ship .
(2) a sailing/cargo/cruise ship
(3) a ship's captain/crew/company/cook

(1) She gasped at the wonderful view.
(2) They gasped in astonishment at the news.
(3) ‘What was that noise? ’ he gasped.

(1) I can't remember any more─I must have lost consciousness .
(2) She did not regain consciousness and died the next day.
(3) his consciousness of the challenge facing him

(1) Their latest single represents a new departure for the band.
(2) It was a radical departure from tradition.
(3) the departures board

(1) Who's the girl standing behind Jan?
(2) Stay close behind me.
(3) a small street behind the station

(1) the tips of your fingers
(2) the tip of your nose
(3) the northern tip of the island

(1) She's still learning to read.
(2) Some children can read and write before they go to school.
(3) I can't read your writing.

(1) I don't want to boast, but I can actually speak six languages.
(2) She is always boasting about how wonderful her children are.
(3) He openly boasted of his skill as a burglar.

(1) His expression changed from surprise to one of amusement.
(2) The expression in her eyes told me something was wrong.
(3) facial expressions

(1) a sharp knife
(2) sharp teeth
(3) a sharp drop in prices

(1) It is difficult to define what makes him so popular.
(2) The mountain was sharply defined against the sky.
(3) The term ‘mental illness ’ is difficult to define.

(1) He had a few pennies in his pocket.
(2) That will be 45 pence, please.
(3) They cost 20p each.

(1) Television is an effective means of communication.
(2) Is there any means of contacting him?
(3) Have you any means of identification ?

(1) the core subjects of English, Maths and Science
(2) a maths teacher
(3) the school mathematics curriculum

(1) a diamond necklace
(2) ...a diamond necklace and matching earrings.
(3) Alleged strike breakers had their houses petrol-bombed or were hacked to death or necklaced.

(1) I want to report the loss of a package.
(2) loss of blood
(3) weight loss

(1) I certainly think there should be a ban on tobacco advertising...
(2) Do you think I ought to seal the boxes up?...
(3) Nora thought he was seventeen years old...

(1) It's not surprising (that) they lost.
(2) We had a surprising amount in common.
(3) It's surprising what people will do for money.

(1) the opinion of a so-called ‘expert ’
(2) How have these so-called improvements helped the local community?
(3) artists from the so-called ‘School of London ’