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

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

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

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

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

(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) 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) 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) 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(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) 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) 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 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) 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) 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.