(1) a serious/severe/considerable disadvantage
(2) One major disadvantage of the area is the lack of public transport.
(3) There are disadvantages to the plan.

(1) a Spanish-English dictionary
(2) a dictionary of mathematics
(3) ...the dictionary of National Biography.

(1) a waste of electricity
(2) The electricity is off (= there is no electric power supply) .
(3) We moved into a cabin with electricity but no running water...

(1) I saw him sometime last summer.
(2) We must get together sometime.
(3) Thomas Atkins, sometime vicar of this parish

(1) a mild form of the disease
(2) a mild punishment/criticism
(3) It's safe to take a mild sedative.

(1) a field mouse
(2) a house mouse
(3) The stores were overrun with rats and mice.

(1) Yogurt is made from active cultures.
(2) to do/take a throat culture
(3) a culture of cells from the tumour

(1) He specialized in criminal law.
(2) Many students prefer not to specialize too soon.
(3) The shop specializes in hand-made chocolates.

(1) chinese waiters stood in a cluster, sharing a private joke.
(2) Her chinese friends referred to the Empress as their venerable ancestor.
(3) Cartons of chinese food were arrayed on a large oak table.

(1) unnecessary expense
(2) They were found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to animals.
(3) All this fuss is totally unnecessary .

(1) He was filled with anger at the way he had been treated.
(2) Jan slammed her fist on the desk in anger .
(3) the growing anger and frustration of young unemployed people

(1) We heard a lion roar.
(2) The gun roared deafeningly.
(3) The engine roared to life (= started noisily) .

(1) one of the greatest triumphs of modern science
(2) It was a personal triumph over her old rival.
(3) a shout of triumph

(1) a factory producing a range of textiles
(2) the textile industry
(3) a textile designer

(1) to move slowly
(2) Please could you speak more slowly?
(3) The boat chugged slowly along.

(1) I am not altogether happy about the decision.
(2) It was an altogether different situation.
(3) You owe me £68 altogether.

(1) A disastrous business venture lost him thousands of dollars.
(2) They ventured nervously into the water.
(3) He's never ventured abroad in his life.

(1) There is a limit to the amount of pain we can bear.
(2) The team performed to the limit of its capabilities.
(3) She knew the limits of her power.

(1) a careful piece of work
(2) a careful examination of the facts
(3) After careful consideration we have decided to offer you the job.

(1) I sold my car to James for £800.
(2) I sold James my car for £800.
(3) They sold the business at a profit/loss (= they gained/lost money when they sold it) .

(1) My brother and I went to the same school.
(2) (formal)Which school do they attend?
(3) I'm going to the school today to talk to Kim's teacher.

(1) These items are not covered by your medical insurance...
(2) Make sure that the firm's insurance cover is adequate.
(3) The law covers four categories of experiments...

(1) statistical analysis
(2) The book is an analysis of poverty and its causes.
(3) The blood samples are sent to the laboratory for analysis .

(1) a vigorous campaign against tax fraud
(2) a vigorous opponent of the government
(3) Take vigorous exercise for several hours a week.

(1) Manufacturing output has increased by 8%.
(2) data output
(3) an output device

(1) a casual acquaintance
(2) a casual friendship
(3) to have casual sex (= to have sex without having a steady relationship with that partner)

(1) policies that will benefit society as a whole
(2) Racism exists at all levels of society.
(3) They carried out research into the roles of men and women in today's society.

(1) You can ask for help whenever you need it.
(2) whenever she comes, she brings a friend.
(3) The roof leaks whenever it rains.

(1) He equalized with a beautifully flighted shot.
(2) mercy/relief flights (= planes taking help to countries where there is a war)
(3) the age of supersonic flight

(1) There are other restaurants where you can eat less expensively.
(2) expensively dressed/furnished
(3) That dress was an expensive mistake .

(1) I have the greatest respect for your brother.
(2) A two-minute silence was held as a mark of respect .
(3) A deep mutual respect and understanding developed between them.

(1) This may sound trivial, but I assure you it is quite important!
(2) Mr Brownson, I assure you King's an old enemy of mine.
(3) He hastened to assure us that the press would not be informed.

(1) Workers should wear full protective clothing .
(2) a protective layer of varnish
(3) a protective barrier against the sun's rays

(1) Do be careful, for goodness' sake.
(2) Oh, for heaven's sake!
(3) For pity's sake, help me!

(1) One of the screws is loose.
(2) Now tighten all the screws.
(3) a good screw

(1) When I got canned, I took these keys as souvenirs.
(2) How can you complain about higher taxes?...
(3) How can millions of dollars go astray?...

(1) They export their products to markets throughout the world.
(2) The museum is open daily throughout the year.
(3) The house was painted white throughout.

(1) 50 young hopefuls are trying for a place in the England team.
(2) The future did not seem very hopeful.
(3) The latest trade figures are a hopeful sign.

(1) She moved the sheaf of papers into position...
(2) You can move the camera both vertically and horizontally...
(3) She waited for him to get up, but he didn't move...

(1) our daughter/dog/house
(2) We showed them some of our photos.
(3) our main export is rice.