(1) The competition attracted over 500 contestants representing 8 different countries.
(2) Local businesses are well represented on the committee (= there are a lot of people from them on the committee) .
(3) The President was represented at the ceremony by the Vice-President.

(1) a blanket of fog/snow/cloud
(2) (figurative)The trial was conducted under a blanket of secrecy.
(3) a blanket ban on tobacco advertising

(1) The company is unable to absorb such huge losses.
(2) Plants absorb oxygen.
(3) The cream is easily absorbed into the skin.

(1) She did not/didn't see him.
(2) The sanctions are not working the way they were intended...
(3) I was not in Britain at the time...

(1) She has a poor complexion and pock marks on her forehead.
(2) She dabbed iodine on the cuts on her forehead.
(3) A curl of black hair fell loosely across his forehead.

(1) She touched him gently on the arm.
(2) He held the dirty rag at arm's length (= as far away from his body as possible) .
(3) He escaped with only a broken arm.

(1) She conveniently forgot to mention that her husband would be at the party, too (= because it suited her not to say) .
(2) Fruit is a convenient source of vitamins and energy.
(3) A bicycle is often more convenient than a car in towns.

(1) dietary fibre
(2) Dried fruits are especially high in fibre .
(3) a high-/low-fibre diet

(1) He punched me with his fist.
(2) She clenched her fists to stop herself trembling.
(3) He got into a fist fight in the bar.

(1) This kind of watermelon is remarkable for its size.
(2) The watermelon has gotten bad.
(3) Oh, what a big watermelon!

(1) a pleasant working/learning environment
(2) An unhappy home environment can affect a child's behaviour.
(3) They have created an environment in which productivity should flourish.

(1) I'm quite a fast typist.
(2) The typist turned to and finished the article in two hours.
(3) Check the manuscript over carefully before passing it to the typist.

(1) (North Amercian English)an herb garden
(2) a herb garden
(3) She set about brewing some herb tea.

(1) Roland Nilsson last night backed Sheffield wednesday to win the UEFA Cup.
(2) Meanwhile the race is on to resurface the road before next wednesday.
(3) Steve had told her that he'dbeen in an accident on wednesday night.

(1) See you later.
(2) I met her again three years later.
(3) His father died later that year.

(1) He was a warm, generous and kind-hearted man.

(1) Officials arrived to assess whether it is safe to bring emergency food supplies into the city...
(2) Most foods that we eat are safe for birds.
(3) In the future people can go to a football match knowing that they are safe from hooliganism...

(1) They crawled along on their bellies.
(2) the belly of a ship
(3) swollen-bellied

(1) The game has already been postponed three times.
(2) We'll have to postpone the meeting until next week.
(3) It was an unpopular decision to postpone building the new hospital.

(1) laws based on the principles of justice
(2) They are demanding equal rights and justice.
(3) Who can deny the justice of their cause?

(1) cheers then. See you later.
(2) The candidate waved his hands to acknowledge the cheers of the crowd.
(3) cheers greeted the arrival of the Queen.

(1) The accident could have been prevented.
(2) He is prevented by law from holding a licence.
(3) Nothing would prevent him from speaking out against injustice.

(1) a bowl of soup
(2) chicken soup
(3) (British English) tinned/packet soups

(1) cigar smoke
(2) He was sitting alone smoking a big cigar.
(3) Brooks examines it rolling it between his fingertips like a man checking out a fine cigar.

(1) These peaches are still firm.
(2) a firm bed/mattress
(3) a firm of accountants

(1) a rectangular shape
(2) The pool was in the shape of a heart.
(3) The island was originally circular in shape .

(1) to make up a four at tennis
(2) a coach and four (= four horses)
(3) We were crawling around on all fours.

(1) It's cruel to make fun of people who stammer.
(2) She's really fun to be with.
(3) This game looks fun!

(1) She was forced to retire early from teaching because of ill health.
(2) My dream is to retire to a villa in France.
(3) He has no plans to retire as editor of the magazine.

(1) a strong desire for power
(2) enough money to satisfy all your desires
(3) She felt an overwhelming desire to return home.

(1) a rainy day
(2) the rainy season
(3) the rainiest place in Britain

(1) The dog was chewing on a bone.
(2) to chew your nails
(3) After the operation you may find it difficult to chew and swallow.

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

(1) the high/low cost of housing
(2) A new computer system has been installed at a cost of £80 000.
(3) The plan had to be abandoned on grounds of cost.

(1) Pass the salt, please.
(2) a pinch of salt (= a small amount of it)
(3) Season with salt and pepper.

(1) We've got plenty of time; there's no need to rush.
(2) the sound of rushing water
(3) Don't rush off, I haven't finished.

(1) Europe's largest producer of nylon is based in belgium.
(2) A very virulent form of the disease appeared in belgium.
(3) He was saving his energy for next week's race in belgium.

(1) a marble sculpture of Venus
(2) He collects modern sculpture.
(3) the techniques of sculpture in stone

(1) What's the depth of the water here?
(2) Water was found at a depth of 30 metres.
(3) They dug down to a depth of two metres.