(1) If it doesn't fit, you can always take it back.
(2) If he can't help, there's always John.
(3) As always, Polly was late for school.

(1) a sincere attempt to resolve the problem
(2) sincere regret
(3) Please accept our sincere thanks.

(1) The demonstration passed off without incident .
(2) a border/diplomatic incident
(3) There was a shooting incident near here last night.

(1) The referee finally blew the whistle to stop the game.
(2) He scored the winning goal just seconds before the final whistle.
(3) a shrill whistle

(1) a 28p stamp
(2) Could I have three first-class stamps, please?
(3) He has been collecting stamps since he was eight.

(1) We were hungry and thirsty.
(2) Digging is thirsty work (= makes you thirsty) .
(3) He is thirsty for power.

(1) Try looking at things from a different viewpoint.
(2) She will have her own viewpoint on the matter.
(3) From a practical viewpoint, I'd advise you not to go.

(1) My aunt lives in Canada.
(2) aunt Alice
(3) It was a present from aunt Vera.

(1) Sue shares a house with three other students.
(2) There isn't an empty table. Would you mind sharing?
(3) We shared the pizza between the four of us.

(1) an airline pilot
(2) international airlines
(3) ...the Dutch national airline KLM.

(1) He is interested in buying the club as a commercial undertaking.
(2) In those days, the trip across country was a dangerous undertaking.
(3) a government undertaking to spend more on education

(1) cigarette smoke
(2) Clouds of thick black smoke billowed from the car's exhaust.
(3) Are you coming outside for a smoke?

(1) a desk diary
(2) I'll make a note of our next meeting in my diary.
(3) Do you keep a diary (= write one regularly) ?

(1) new developments in science and technology
(2) the advance of modern science
(3) the laws of science

(1) The results of the research are summarized at the end of the chapter.
(2) Table 3.1 summarizes the information given above...
(3) Basically, the article can be summarized in three sentences...

(1) All the students were asked to assemble in the main hall.
(2) She then addressed the assembled company (= all the people there) .
(3) to assemble evidence/data

(1) an extra large T-shirt
(2) She tried extra hard.
(3) to charge/pay/cost extra

(1) He was to address a public assembly on the issue.
(2) an assembly point (= a place where people have been asked to meet)
(3) Putting the bookcase together should be a simple assembly job.

(1) What you wear should be stylish and clean, and must definitely fit well...
(2) You are going to have to take a certain amount of criticism, but you must cope with it...
(3) Candidates must satisfy the general conditions for admission...

(1) the classical/contemporary/popular idiom
(2) ‘Let the cat out of the bag ’ is an idiom meaning to tell a secret by mistake.
(3) ...her command of the Chinese idiom.

(1) The bank is just across the street.
(2) to walk along/down/up the street
(3) the town's narrow cobbled streets

(1) His stories usually have a happy ending .
(2) the anniversary of the ending of the Pacific War
(3) It was the perfect ending to the perfect day.

(1) I haven't seen hide nor hair of her for a month.
(2) She'd do anything to save her own hide .
(3) All he's worried about is his own hide (= himself) .

(1) They seemed to be enjoying themselves.
(2) The children were arguing amongst themselves.
(3) They've bought themselves a new car.

(1) I cut myself on a knife.
(2) I wrote a message to myself.
(3) I found myself unable to speak.

(1) parallel lines
(2) The road and the canal are parallel to each other.
(3) a parallel case

(1) I'm older than her.
(2) There was more whisky in it than soda.
(3) He loves me more than you do.

(1) It was by far the worst speech he had ever made.
(2) What's the worst thing that could happen?
(3) What she said confirmed my worst fears (= proved they were right) .

(1) a bottle of expensive perfume
(2) We stock a wide range of perfumes.
(3) the perfume counter of the store

(1) Mr Harris and Mrs Bate and three other teachers were there.
(2) Are there any other questions?
(3) I can't see you now─ some other time , maybe.

(1) a gap in a hedge
(2) Leave a gap between your car and the next.
(3) a gap in the conversation

(1) The victims were not referred to by name.
(2) Her mother never referred to him again.
(3) You know who I'm referring to.

(1) a monarch without political power
(2) He was a political prisoner (= one who was put in prison because he was thought to be harmful to the state) .
(3) a political debate/party/leader

(1) the City of London's financial district
(2) a tax/postal district
(3) a school district

(1) steam rose from the boiling kettle.
(2) the introduction of steam in the 18th century
(3) steam power

(1) a bar/piece of chocolate
(2) a chocolate cake
(3) a chocolate factory

(1) I stood up to speak and─horror of horrors─realized I had left my notes behind.
(2) Her son is a little horror.
(3) a horror film/movie

(1) The animals were left to starve to death.
(2) pictures of starving children
(3) The new job doesn't pay as much but we won't starve!

(1) ...enthusiastic amateur gardeners.
(2) A gardener was hired to assist with the gardening.
(3) After the old gardener died, the garden grew wild.

(1) "I want to send a telegram." — "Fine, to whom?"
(2) Soldiers took away four people one of whom was later released.
(3) whom would it profit to terrify or to kill James Sinclair?