(1) A thin layer of dust covered everything.
(2) How many layers of clothing are you wearing?
(3) There were too many layers of management in the company.

(1) The government's plans run counter to agreed European policy on this issue.
(2) Such arguments are not easily countered.
(3) I tried to argue but he countered that the plans were not yet finished.

(1) literary criticism/theory
(2) It was Chaucer who really turned English into a literary language.
(3) a literary man

(1) The key issue was whether the four defendants acted dishonestly.
(2) It's not a case of whether anyone would notice or not.
(3) whether such properties are a good deal will depend on individual situations.

(1) a row of trees
(2) We sat in a row at the back of the room.
(3) The vegetables were planted in neat rows.

(1) A monument to him was erected in St Paul's Cathedral.
(2) an ancient monument
(3) These recordings are a monument to his talent as a pianist.

(1) When the war ended, people finally had cause to rejoice.
(2) The motor industry is rejoicing at the cut in car tax.
(3) They rejoiced to see their son well again.

(1) a dress with short/long sleeves
(2) Dan rolled up his sleeves and washed his hands.
(3) a short-sleeved shirt

(1) The army renewed its assault on the capital.
(2) We have to renew our efforts to attract young players.
(3) The annual dinner is a chance to renew acquaintance with old friends.

(1) a bale of hay
(2) ...traditional hay making methods.
(3) We knew that war was coming, and were determined to make hay while we could.

(1) She estimated the breadth of the lake to be 500 metres.
(2) He was surprised at her breadth of reading.
(3) The curriculum needs breadth and balance.

(1) I wanted her and she was playing hard to get.
(2) California's been particularly hard hit by the recession.
(3) The talks had been hard going at the start.

(1) the Iberian peninsula (= Spain and Portugal)
(2) ...the political situation in the Korean peninsula...
(3) I had walked around the entire peninsula.

(1) The whole family has the flu.
(2) (British English)She's got flu.
(3) I got flu...

(1) They announced the withdrawal of 12 000 troops from the area.
(2) The president decided to send in the troops .
(3) Russian troops

(1) Oil and water do not mix.
(2) Oil does not mix with water.
(3) mix all the ingredients together in a bowl.

(1) They located the ship by radar.
(2) a radar screen
(3) The issue of terrorism is back on the radar screen.

(1) radium can be used to treat cancer.
(2) Radon is the daughter of radium.
(3) radium can be fixed some distance from its original source.

(1) The officers had exceeded their authority.
(2) She was exceeding the speed limit (= driving faster than is allowed) .
(3) His achievements have exceeded expectations .

(1) The knives were bent out of shape.
(2) He bent the wire into the shape of a square.
(3) Mark the pipe where you want to bend it.

(1) I'm afraid that it's not finished yet.
(2) He's no better, I'm afraid to say .
(3) ‘Is there any left? ’ ‘ I'm afraid not . ’

(1) Stars twinkled in the sky.
(2) twinkling lights in the distance
(3) twinkling blue eyes

(1) The hotel was really filthy and I'm not exaggerating.
(2) He tends to exaggerate the difficulties.
(3) I'm sure he exaggerates his Irish accent (= tries to sound more Irish than he really is) .

(1) We recognize the necessity for a written agreement.
(2) We were discussing the necessity of employing more staff.
(3) There had never been any necessity for her to go out to work.

(1) a style of music that defies classification (= is like no other)
(2) Its tariffs cater for four basic classifications of customer.
(3) The changes made through biotechnology do not violate the classification of a species.

(1) raw meat
(2) These fish are often eaten raw.
(3) raw sugar

(1) My boss is making life very difficult for me.
(2) 13 is a difficult age.
(3) a difficult child/customer/boss

(1) countries seeking entry into the European Union
(2) the entry of women into the workforce
(3) There have been some impressive entries in the wildlife photography section (= impressive photographs) .

(1) an urgent appeal for information
(2) a problem that requires urgent attention
(3) ‘Can I see you for a moment? ’ ‘Is it urgent? ’

(1) styling wax for the hair
(2) floor wax
(3) wax crayons

(1) an independent nation
(2) the African nations
(3) The entire nation, it seemed, was watching TV.

(1) He exploited his father's name to get himself a job.
(2) She realized that her youth and inexperience were being exploited.
(3) What is being done to stop employers from exploiting young people?

(1) a sensitive and caring man
(2) She is very sensitive to other people's feelings.
(3) an actor's sensitive reading of the poem

(1) Make sure you've signed the cheque before sealing the envelope.
(2) a sealed bid (= one that is kept in a sealed envelope and therefore remains secret until all other bids have been received)
(3) The organs are kept in sealed plastic bags.

(1) laboratory technicians
(2) ...a laboratory technician.
(3) ...a versatile, veteran player, a superb technician.

(1) I got to the stage where I wasn't coping any more.
(2) He wasn't able to cope with the stresses and strains of the job.
(3) Desert plants are adapted to cope with extreme heat.

(1) a research project
(2) a building project
(3) to set up a project to computerize the library system

(1) There was growing criticism of the government's conduct of the war.
(2) The guide conducted us around the ruins of the ancient city.
(3) He conducted himself far better than expected.

(1) I'll take any you don't want.
(2) ‘Which colour do you want? ’ ‘any of them will do. ’
(3) I suggested sharing the cost, but he wasn't having any of it.

(1) political/economic/social stability
(2) the stability of the dollar on the world's money markets
(3) Being back with their family should provide emotional stability for the children.