(1) They had to leave at midnight .
(2) on the stroke of midnight/shortly after midnight
(3) She heard the clock strike midnight.

(1) Every evening at sunset the flag was lowered.
(2) a spectacular sunset
(3) There is a five-year sunset on the new tax.

(1) We collected money in behalf of the homeless.
(2) On behalf of the department I would like to thank you all.
(3) Mr Knight cannot be here, so his wife will accept the prize on his behalf.

(1) It was possibly their worst performance ever.
(2) She found it difficult to get on with her, possibly because of the difference in their ages.
(3) ‘Will you be around next week? ’ ‘possibly. ’

(1) a scientific discovery
(2) scientific knowledge
(3) sites of scientific interest

(1) a serious illness/problem/offence
(2) to cause serious injury/damage
(3) They pose a serious threat to security.

(1) They hold differing views.
(2) French differs from English in this respect.
(3) French and English differ in this respect.

(1) Pay is reviewed on a yearly basis.
(2) yearly income/interest
(3) The magazine is issued twice yearly (= twice every year) .

(1) a rational argument/choice/decision
(2) rational analysis/thought
(3) There is no rational explanation for his actions.

(1) human/physical/economic/social geography
(2) a geography lesson/department/teacher/textbook
(3) a degree in geography

(1) traditional dress
(2) It's traditional in America to eat turkey on Thanksgiving Day.
(3) traditional methods of teaching

(1) a feeble attempt to explain
(2) Don't be so feeble! Tell her you don't want to go.
(3) a feeble old man

(1) We don't have very many copies left.
(2) You can't have one each. We haven't got many.
(3) many people feel that the law should be changed.

(1) Mark showed no outward signs of distress.
(2) She simply observes the outward forms of religion.
(3) To all outward appearances (= as far as it was possible to judge from the outside) they were perfectly happy.

(1) He kept a tight grip on her arm.
(2) She twisted her hair into a tight knot.
(3) The screw was so tight that it wouldn't move.

(1) The party was a real gas.
(2) Step on the gas , we're late.
(3) to fill up the gas tank

(1) eagle Star offers a 10% discount to the over-55s.
(2) She knew the exact location of The eagle's headquarters.
(3) The eagle is the animal most sacred to the Native Americans.

(1) the shoulder straps of her dress
(2) a watch with a leather strap
(3) He strapped the knife to his leg.

(1) Stevens wrote him a note asking him to come to his apartment...
(2) I'll have to leave a note for Karen.
(3) I knew that if I didn't make a note I would lose the thought so I asked to borrow a pen or pencil...

(1) My mother sends her greetings to you all.
(2) Christmas/birthday, etc. greetings
(3) He raised his hand in greeting .

(1) There's room for one more piece of luggage.
(2) You stay there with the luggage while I find a cab.
(3) Leave your luggage in the hotel...

(1) It's only a small improvement, but at least it's a step in the right direction .
(2) Support came from an unexpected direction.
(3) Let us approach the subject from a different direction.

(1) tanks and other military hardware
(2) a hardware shop
(3) Preparation and maintenance the components need in hardware development.

(1) economic/humanitarian/emergency aid
(2) An extra £10 million in foreign aid has been promised.
(3) aid agencies (= organizations that provide help)

(1) There is little chance that we will succeed in changing the law. nevertheless, it is important that we try.
(2) Our defeat was expected but it is disappointing nevertheless.
(3) Most marriages fail after between five and nine years. nevertheless, people continue to get married.

(1) students of moderate ability
(2) Even moderate amounts of the drug can be fatal.
(3) The team enjoyed only moderate success last season.

(1) tables that fold flat for storage
(2) There's a lot of storage space in the loft.
(3) food storage facilities

(1) war and peace
(2) peace talks/negotiations
(3) The negotiators are trying to make peace between the warring factions.

(1) machines have replaced human labour in many industries.
(2) to operate/run a machine
(3) How does this machine work?

(1) battery eggs
(2) a battery hen
(3) a battery of reporters

(1) He's only 17 and therefore not eligible to vote.
(2) There is still much to discuss. We shall, therefore, return to this item at our next meeting.
(3) Muscle cells need lots of fuel and therefore burn lots of calories...

(1) Some people are unwilling to attend the classes partly because of the cost involved.
(2) He was only partly responsible for the accident.
(3) It's partly my fault...

(1) The teacher will give you feedback on the test.
(2) We need both positive and negative feedback from our customers.
(3) I'd appreciate some feedback on my work.

(1) a valid passport
(2) a South African passport
(3) I was stopped as I went through passport control (= where passports are checked) .

(1) The assistant pursed her lips.
(2) your upper/lower/top/bottom lip
(3) She kissed him on the lips .

(1) Her fellow teachers greeted her proposal with scorn .
(2) They had nothing but scorn for his political views.
(3) She scorned their views as old-fashioned.

(1) (British English)the caring professions (= that involve looking after people)
(2) He was an electrician by profession .
(3) She was at the very top of her profession.

(1) youthful enthusiasm/energy/inexperience
(2) She's a very youthful 65.
(3) I'm a very youthful 50.

(1) The measures are intended to restore public confidence in the economy.
(2) Order was quickly restored after the riots.
(3) Such kindness restores your faith in human nature (= makes you believe most people are kind) .

(1) The army was forced to retreat after suffering heavy losses.
(2) We retreated back down the mountain.
(3) He watched her retreating figure.