(1) She closed her eyes tightly in a vain attempt to hold back the tears.
(2) I knocked loudly in the vain hope that someone might answer.
(3) She's too vain to wear glasses.

(1) Some birds which were once a common sight are now becoming rare.
(2) a common spelling mistake
(3) They share a common interest in photography.

(1) middle east peace talks in Washington showed signs of progress yesterday.
(2) Mr Cook is intending to go to the middle east on Friday.
(3) This message caused perturbation in the middle east Headquarters.

(1) What's the latest news?
(2) Have you heard the news? Pat's leaving!
(3) That's great news.

(1) the croaking of frogs
(2) Quick unexpected frog goes Plop!
(3) Once upon a time a big, fat frog lived in a tiny shallow pond.

(1) She had boned up on the city's history before the visit.
(2) His threats chilled her to the bone.
(3) She was honest and hard-working, and didn't have an unkind bone in her body.

(1) ...plans to build a dam on the Danube River.
(2) ...the Aswan dam.
(3) ...plans to dam the nearby Delaware River...

(1) If they entered the building they would be breaking the law .
(2) In Sweden it is against the law to hit a child.
(3) Defence attorneys can use any means within the law to get their client off.

(1) May I borrow it for a day or two?
(2) He broke the bar of chocolate in two and gave me half.
(3) People arrived in twos and threes.

(1) Children's literature is an ideological battleground.
(2) He said that when he was burying the heroes in their battleground he shed tears.
(3) Will rewards of some sort for winning a battleground match be available?

(1) It doesn't cost a bean.
(2) See p. 246 for Thom bean's response.
(3) bean sprouts are also sold in cans.

(1) soap and water
(2) a bar/piece of soap
(3) soap bubbles

(1) I sincerely believe that this is the right decision.
(2) ‘I won't let you down. ’ ‘I sincerely hope not. ’
(3) 'Congratulations,' he said sincerely...

(1) So far eight workers have been killed.
(2) Our family adopted a child aged eight.
(3) It can take as long as eight days to rig up rope ladders and to establish supply bases before a descent can be made into a very deep cave.

(1) I made the classic mistake of clapping in a pause in the music!
(2) a classic grey suit
(3) classic design

(1) Let's go for a dip before breakfast.
(2) He dipped the brush into the paint.
(3) dip your hand in to see how hot the water is.

(1) They looked poor and unhealthy.
(2) unhealthy skin
(3) His eyeballs were an unhealthy yellow.

(1) He was created a baronet in 1715.
(2) The government has created eight new peers.
(3) They've painted it red to create a feeling of warmth.

(1) The details of today's flights are displayed on the monitor.
(2) a PC with a 17-inch colour monitor
(3) a heart monitor

(1) His constant joking was beginning to annoy her.
(2) It really annoys me when people forget to say thank you.
(3) It annoys me to see him getting ahead of me.

(1) birds looking for worms
(2) The dog has worms.
(3) This apple is full of worms.

(1) a rapid climb to stardom
(2) the long slow climb out of the recession
(3) the dollar's climb against the euro

(1) a confused state of mind
(2) He was in a state of permanent depression.
(3) anxieties about the state of the country's economy

(1) Mary was always the perfect hostess.
(2) She was a superb hostess to us all.
(3) The hostess introduced them...

(1) The water overflowed from the bathtub.
(2) Water was weeping from the bathtub.
(3) CONSTRUCTION Sealing materials for skylight, bathtub.

(1) Dense/thick fog is affecting roads in the north and visibility is poor.
(2) freezing fog
(3) Patches of fog will clear by mid-morning.

(1) to reply to a question/an advertisement
(2) He never replied to any of my letters.
(3) She only replied with a smile.

(1) He enjoyed a round of golf on a Sunday morning.
(2) The country club has a golf course.
(3) golf isn't his cup of tea.

(1) Mexico city
(2) the city of York
(3) The city turned out to welcome the victorious team home.

(1) S - U - N sun and L - I - N Lin, Got it?
(2) The U . N . troops are working to pacify Bosnia.
(3) Angry fiddle players take over the U . N . building.

(1) You wouldn't believe some of the prices they charge; it's daylight robbery.
(2) They left before daylight (= before the sun had risen) .
(3) The street looks very different in daylight .

(1) Madonna was her teenage heroine.
(2) The heroine is played by Demi Moore.
(3) the heroines of the revolution

(1) The military now say they're willing to hold talks with the political parties...
(2) There are, of course, questions which she will not be willing to answer.
(3) Have the party on a Saturday, when you can get your partner and other willing adults to help...

(1) The family jewels are locked away in a safe.
(2) ...a golden box containing precious jewels.
(3) Walk down Castle Street and admire our little jewel of a cathedral...

(1) Answers are given on the opposite page.
(2) We live further down on the opposite side of the road.
(3) It's not easy having a relationship when you live at opposite ends of the country.

(1) to be bursting with ideas/enthusiasm/pride
(2) The hall was filled to bursting point .
(3) The hall was full to bursting .

(1) The artist combines different techniques in the same painting.
(2) marketing techniques
(3) Her technique has improved a lot over the past season.

(1) She wants a room all to herself.
(2) She runs the business by herself.
(3) She lives by herself.

(1) a rabbit hutch
(2) Objective : To explore the effect of Cuyubanhenxiao on hypertrophic scars in rabbit ears.
(3) They comply, and the rabbit dashes through the hole and escapes.

(1) jams made with fruit juice concentrate
(2) mineral concentrates found at the bottom of rivers
(3) In this lecture I shall concentrate on the early years of Charles's reign.