(1) Hopes of reaching an agreement seem to be fading away.
(2) His voice faded to a whisper (= gradually became quieter) .
(3) The laughter faded away.

(1) the relative merits of the two plans
(2) the position of the sun relative to the earth
(3) They now live in relative comfort (= compared with how they lived before) .

(1) a coat pocket
(2) I put the note in my pocket.
(3) Turn out your pockets (= empty your pockets) .

(1) The gunman took aim (= pointed his weapon) and fired.
(2) The government is aiming at a 50% reduction in unemployment.
(3) They're aiming at training everybody by the end of the year.

(1) noisy children/traffic/crowds
(2) a noisy protest (= when people shout)
(3) The engine is very noisy at high speed.

(1) vastly superior
(2) superior intelligence
(3) This model is technically superior to its competitors.

(1) a fairly easy book
(2) a fairly typical reaction
(3) I know him fairly well, but I wouldn't say we were really close friends.

(1) to violate international law
(2) She accused the press photographers of violating her privacy.
(3) to violate a grave

(1) She's fluent in French and German. She also speaks a little Italian.
(2) rubella, also known as German measles
(3) I didn't like it that much. also, it was much too expensive.

(1) This proposal has attracted a lot of interest .
(2) His comments were bound to attract criticism .
(3) She tried to attract the attention of the waiter.

(1) Planes flew overhead constantly.
(2) Thunder boomed in the sky overhead.
(3) overhead power lines

(1) white settlers in Africa
(2) The village was founded by settlers from the Volga region.
(3) This restaurant is owned by an Italian settler.

(1) The dog ran up, wagging its tail.
(2) The male has beautiful tail feathers.
(3) a white-tailed eagle

(1) Hawaii was the birthplace of surfing.
(2) ...Athens, the birthplace of the ancient Olympics.
(3) He has a sentimental attachment to his birthplace.

(1) She was delivered of a healthy boy.
(2) He delivered the blow (= hit sb hard) with all his force.
(3) The baby was delivered by Caesarean section.

(1) Someone tapped at the door.
(2) He was busy tapping away at his computer.
(3) Ralph tapped me on the shoulder.

(1) Don't throw that away─it might come in handy.
(2) The extra money came in very handy.
(3) to be handy around the house

(1) a person of wealth and influence
(2) His personal wealth is estimated at around $100 million.
(3) the distribution of wealth in Britain

(1) factors influencing the determination of future policy
(2) Both methods rely on the accurate determination of the pressure of the gas.
(3) fierce/grim/dogged determination

(1) the Royal academy of Arts
(2) the Royal academy of Music
(3) a police/military academy

(1) His face burned with shame.
(2) She hung her head in shame.
(3) He could not live with the shame of other people knowing the truth.

(1) You've got some egg on your necktie.
(2) Henry wouldn't be caught dead in the necktie he got for Christmas.
(3) He stood in front of the mirror tightening his necktie.

(1) a test that checks the level of alcohol in the blood
(2) a relatively low/high level of crime
(3) low/high pollution levels

(1) to be worthy of attention
(2) A number of the report's findings are worthy of note .
(3) No composer was considered worthy of the name until he had written an opera.

(1) The noise kept him awake...
(2) Reggie was being kept busy behind the bar...
(3) keep away from the doors while the train is moving...

(1) the ties of brotherhood
(2) to live in peace and brotherhood
(3) People threw flowers into the river between the two countries as a symbolic act of brotherhood...

(1) a big/hearty/light breakfast
(2) (especially British English)a cooked breakfast
(3) Do you want bacon and eggs for breakfast ?

(1) I asked him if he would help me and he nodded.
(2) Her head nodded in agreement.
(3) He nodded his head sympathetically.

(1) readily/freely/publicly/generally available
(2) Tickets are available free of charge from the school.
(3) When will the information be made available ?

(1) You dirty dog!
(2) I'm afraid in this line of work it's a case of dog eat dog.
(3) We're operating in a dog-eat-dog world.

(1) I have a bad memory for names.
(2) People have short memories (= they soon forget) .
(3) He had a long memory for people who had disappointed him.

(1) What's for dessert ?
(2) a rich chocolate dessert
(3) a dessert wine

(1) Shandong; floods and droughts; control measures; food production; farmland water conservancy; farmers savings; and warehouse.
(2) Completion of this Administration Building will provide spaces for Central Office, warehouse, and Canteen facilities.
(3) Finally, three main applications of data warehouse are depicted in detail.

(1) to feel/have/show/express (an) interest in sth
(2) Do your parents take an interest in your friends?
(3) By that time I had lost (all) interest in the idea.

(1) Be not he a farmer?
(2) The lion was roaring triumphantly.
(3) A lion at home, a mouse abroad.

(1) That grocer never overcharges.
(2) I owe the grocer.
(3) The grocer gave her the groceries that he had gathered and stood in stunned silence.

(1) With the establishment of socialism market economy, it bring about new change to hospital ethics situation.
(2) The CPC is the core of leadership for the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics.
(3) We are in the process of building socialism.

(1) the surface of the moon
(2) a moon landing
(3) a crescent moon

(1) ‘Can we still buy tickets for the concert? ’ ‘I imagine so . ’
(2) I don't imagine (that) they'll refuse.
(3) There's nobody there. You're imagining things .

(1) They stood in a doorway kissing (= kissing each other) .
(2) Do people in Britain kiss when they meet?
(3) Go and kiss your mother goodnight.