(1) He's not very good at arithmetic.
(2) a quick bit of mental arithmetic
(3) I think there's something wrong with your arithmetic.

(1) The people are demanding a chance to participate more in government.
(2) I couldn't assent to, much less participate in such proceeding.
(3) You may well participate with us in our gains.

(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) This drink doesn't contain any alcohol.
(2) Her statement contained one or two inaccuracies.
(3) a brown envelope containing dollar bills

(1) a computer screen
(2) a monitor with a 21 inch screen
(3) They were staring at the television screen.

(1) She went to new york to receive the award in person.
(2) She'd made the right choice in leaving new york.
(3) He had jumped overboard in new york harbor and swum to shore.

(1) She overcame injury to win the Olympic gold medal.
(2) The two parties managed to overcome their differences on the issue.
(3) In the final game Sweden easily overcame France.

(1) His last years were clouded by financial worries.
(2) Her eyes clouded with tears.
(3) Steam had clouded the mirror.

(1) medical advances/care/research
(2) her medical condition/history/records
(3) the medical profession

(1) the social dimension of unemployment
(2) Her job added a new dimension to her life.
(3) a problem of considerable dimensions

(1) to be of good/poor/top quality
(2) goods of a high quality
(3) high-quality goods

(1) There were thousands of people there.
(2) The cost ran into the thousands.
(3) ...five thousand acres...

(1) The interview was broadcast on radio and television.
(2) The play was written specially for radio.
(3) I listen to the radio on the way to work.

(1) It's four minutes to six.
(2) I'll be back in a few minutes.
(3) Boil the rice for 20 minutes.

(1) to play bingo
(2) a bingo hall
(3) The computer program searches, and bingo! We've got a match.

(1) ‘Thank you, ’ they said in chorus.
(2) ‘Hello, Paul, ’ they chorused.
(3) the Hallelujah chorus

(1) She was too tired to take a shower...
(2) Betty took a photograph of us...
(3) The Patriotic Front took power after a three-month civil war...

(1) a university town
(2) They live in a rough part of town.
(3) The nearest town is ten miles away.

(1) The government has been cautious in its response to the report.
(2) They've taken a very cautious approach .
(3) They expressed cautious optimism about a solution to the crisis.

(1) cast/wrought/corrugated iron
(2) iron gates/bars/railings
(3) an iron and steel works

(1) The costumes are on hire from the local theatre.
(2) The price includes the hire of the hall.
(3) a car hire firm

(1) a broken window/plate
(2) a broken leg/arm
(3) pieces of broken glass

(1) I'll ask my boss if I can have the day off.
(2) I like being my own boss (= working for myself and making my own decisions) .
(3) Who's the boss (= who's in control) in this house?

(1) a compromise solution/agreement/candidate
(2) This model represents the best compromise between price and quality.
(3) compromise is an inevitable part of life.

(1) a comfortable 2–0 win
(2) The party won with a comfortable majority.
(3) It's such a comfortable bed.

(1) (British English)the caring professions (= that involve looking after people)
(2) He was an electrician by profession .
(3) She was at the very top of her profession.

(1) adventure/detective/love, etc. stories
(2) a story about time travel
(3) Shall I tell you a story ?

(1) a bunch of bananas
(2) ...a bunch of bananas.
(3) People went bananas with boredom...

(1) the frontier between the land of the Saxons and that of the Danes
(2) a customs post on the frontier with Italy
(3) a frontier town/zone/post

(1) a rough crossing from Dover to Calais
(2) the first Atlantic crossing
(3) attempted crossings of the border

(1) She had a puzzled look on her face.
(2) Scientists are puzzled as to why the whale had swum to the shore.
(3) He looked puzzled so I repeated the question.

(1) The challenge for American leadership is this: Can we put our economic house in order?...
(2) Some think Stempel's departure will help the company get its financial house in order...
(3) The owner knew about the engagement and brought them glasses of champagne on the house.

(1) with her were her son and daughter-in-law...
(2) She is currently staying with her father at his home.
(3) Serve hot, with pasta or rice and French beans...

(1) The knives were bent out of shape.
(2) He bent the wire into the shape of a square.
(3) Mark the pipe where you want to bend it.

(1) We visited towns and villages all over Spain.
(2) a fishing/mountain/seaside village
(3) (especially British English)the village shop

(1) No one believed he would actually kill himself...
(2) would he always be like this?…
(3) The statement added that although there were a number of differing views, these would be discussed by both sides...

(1) a camp for refugees fleeing from the war
(2) He fled to London after an argument with his family.
(3) She burst into tears and fled.

(1) an autonomous republic/state/province
(2) They proudly declared themselves part of a new autonomous province.
(3) He treated us as autonomous individuals who had to learn to make up our own minds about important issues.

(1) There was a big moon and hundreds of stars were shining overhead.
(2) Sirius is the brightest star in the sky.
(3) We camped out under the stars .

(1) She's a widow now...
(2) But we are now a much more fragmented society...
(3) I'm sorry, but I must go now...