(1) I'll take any you don't want.
(2) ‘Which colour do you want? ’ ‘any of them will do. ’
(3) I suggested sharing the cost, but he wasn't having any of it.

(1) She's in the kitchen.
(2) We ate at the kitchen table.
(3) This plant is up to the minute with regard to the equipment used.

(1) ‘What was wrong with the job? ’ ‘Well, the pay wasn't good, among other things . ’
(2) Discuss it among yourselves first (= with each other) .
(3) They divided the money up among the children.

(1) a concrete path
(2) the garden path
(3) Follow the path through the woods.

(1) He can walk only with the assistance of crutches.
(2) The company provides advice and assistance in finding work.
(3) She offered me practical assistance with my research.

(1) national and local newspapers
(2) national and international news
(3) national and regional politics

(1) Is your back still painful?
(2) a painful death
(3) My ankle is still too painful to walk on.

(1) You little cheat!
(2) It's really a cheat, but you can use ready-made pastry if you want.
(3) There's a cheat you can use to get to the next level.

(1) I put up my umbrella.
(2) colourful beach umbrellas
(3) Many previously separate groups are now operating under the umbrella of a single authority.

(1) pedestrian areas
(2) pedestrian accidents are down by 5%.
(3) In Los Angeles a pedestrian is a rare spectacle...

(1) The area is of great botanical interest.
(2) ...botanical gardens.
(3) The most effective new botanicals are extracts from cola nut and marine algae.

(1) a tube of glue
(2) He sticks to her like glue (= never leaves her) .
(3) She glued the label onto the box.

(1) His poems were published under the title of ‘Love and Reason ’.
(2) the title track from their latest CD (= the song with the same title as the disc)
(3) She has sung the title role in ‘Carmen ’ (= the role of Carmen in that opera ) .

(1) Our small company has had 78,000 hits on its internet pages.
(2) The internet is the largest computer bulletin board in the world.
(3) Certainly, Andreessen didn't think up using hypertext to link internet documents.

(1) The Earl didn't have the money or good judgement to employ a steward to manage the place for him.
(2) The steward at the march stood his ground while the rest of the marchers decided to run.
(3) The prototype of the steward platform with six axis force sensor and load platform is developed.

(1) His devotion to his wife and family is touching.
(2) her devotion to duty
(3) Her devotion to the job left her with very little free time.

(1) She's broken her wrist.
(2) He wore a copper bracelet on his wrist .
(3) Is there an updated daily record of inspector checking the ESD wrist strap continuity?

(1) A simple error of judgement meant that there was not enough food to go around.
(2) a grave error (= a very serious mistake)
(3) a glaring error (= a mistake that is very obvious)

(1) The instructions were rather complicated.
(2) She fell and hurt her leg rather badly.
(3) I didn't fail the exam; in fact I did rather well!

(1) a wise old man
(2) I'm older and wiser after ten years in the business.
(3) a wise decision

(1) He was unfortunate to lose in the final round.
(2) It was an unfortunate accident.
(3) She described the decision as ‘unfortunate ’.

(1) We've put down a 5% deposit on the house.
(2) They normally ask you to pay £100 (as a) deposit.
(3) to pay a deposit

(1) a china vase
(2) She got out the best china.
(3) ...a small boat made of china.

(1) These cars are built by robots.
(2) Turn left at the first robot.
(3) ...very light-weight robots that we could send to the moon for planetary exploration.

(1) to ask/beg/plead for mercy
(2) They showed no mercy to their hostages.
(3) God have mercy on us.

(1) She doesn't blame anyone for her father's death.
(2) A dropped cigarette is being blamed for the fire.
(3) Police are blaming the accident on dangerous driving.

(1) She was in a relaxed, confident mood.
(2) The teacher wants the children to feel confident about asking questions when they don't understand.
(3) I'm confident that you will get the job.

(1) The success or failure of the plan depends on you.
(2) The attempt was doomed to failure .
(3) All my efforts ended in failure .

(1) The show was good entertainment value .
(2) a budget for the entertainment of clients
(3) radio, television and other forms of entertainment

(1) a careless mistake/error
(2) He seemed careless of his own safety.
(3) She gave a careless shrug.

(1) I wish I were taller.
(2) (British English also)I wish I was taller.
(3) I wish I hadn't eaten so much.

(1) Polish banks can still take two or three weeks to clear a cheque...
(2) Sotomayor, the Cuban holder of the world high jump record, cleared 2.36 metres.
(3) After that they drove clear over to St Paul.

(1) All postal operators recognise, however, that the epistolary habit has taken a hit from the internet.
(2) This research concludes that males and females respond alike when they recognise a thief.
(3) Although Chinese lineage is our proud heritage, we must recognise the difference between race and nationality.

(1) He could only understand a word here and there.
(2) I do a bit of teaching here and there...
(3) Instead of staying in the here and now, you bring up similar instances from the past.

(1) the civil/criminal courts
(2) Her lawyer made a statement outside the court.
(3) She will appear in court tomorrow.

(1) a rude comment
(2) The man was downright rude to us.
(3) She was very rude about my driving.

(1) North American literature is the main theme of this year's festival.
(2) The President stressed a favourite campaign theme─greater emphasis on education.
(3) The naked male figure was always the central theme of Greek art.

(1) The cheetah can attain speeds of up to 97 kph.
(2) Most of our students attained five ‘A ’ grades in their exams.
(3) Jim is halfway to attaining his pilot's licence.

(1) The weeks go so quickly!
(2) Most of my money goes on bills...
(3) The money goes to projects chosen by the wider community.

(1) He said he might come tomorrow.
(2) He might get there in time, but I can't be sure.
(3) I know Vicky doesn't like the job, but I mightn't find it too bad.