(1) I can't read his handwriting.
(2) I have to admit that I have bad handwriting.
(3) The address was in Anna's handwriting...

(1) Her evidence suggests a different interpretation of the events.
(2) It is not possible for everyone to put their own interpretation on the law.
(3) Dreams are open to interpretation (= they can be explained in different ways) .

(1) You can hardly be held responsible for Darrow waltzing in, cool as a cucumber, and demanding thousands of pounds.
(2) With the cucurbitacin, cucumber, such as acid can help the lung, stomach, liver detoxification.
(3) Monday : Sweet corn salad, Garlic bread, Seasonal fruits, rice noodle with beef, cucumber, Juice or yoghurt.

(1) She pulled the curtain aside.
(2) Stand aside and let these people pass.
(3) He took me aside (= away from a group of people) to give me some advice.

(1) a plastic bucket
(2) (British English)They were playing on the beach with their buckets and spades .
(3) two buckets/bucketfuls of water

(1) Much of the meaning must be inferred from the context.
(2) It is reasonable to infer that the government knew about these deals.
(3) Are you inferring (that) I'm not capable of doing the job?

(1) We have an extension in the bedroom.
(2) What's your extension number?
(3) Can I have extension 4332 please?

(1) drilling for oil
(2) engine oil
(3) an oil lamp/heater

(1) an inner courtyard
(2) inner London
(3) the inner ear

(1) One third of the world's population consumes/consume two thirds of the world's resources.
(2) The entire population of the town was at the meeting.
(3) countries with ageing populations

(1) The pro-gramme's researchers are guilty of bias and misrepresentation.
(2) Sarita Sabharwal compered the pro-gramme.
(3) So how did we end up at $10 a gramme?

(1) attempts to reduce smog caused by traffic fumes
(2) Cars cause pollution, both smog and acid rain.
(3) The smog made his eyes red.

(1) The speaker leveled his remarks at the headmaster.
(2) The decision by the headmaster was called in doubt by some of the teachers who thought it unnecessarily harsh.
(3) The boy was ill at ease in the presence of the headmaster.

(1) Are you nearly ready?
(2) I'm just getting the kids ready for school.
(3) Right, we're ready to go.

(1) She married a German.
(2) He never married.
(3) I guess I'm not the marrying kind (= the kind of person who wants to get married) .

(1) His albums are available on tape and CD.
(2) a blank tape (= a tape that has nothing recorded on it)
(3) I lent her my Bob Marley tapes.

(1) The car wheels got stuck in the mud.
(2) Your boots are covered in mud.
(3) mud bricks/huts (= made of dried mud)

(1) After a couple of brandies Michael started telling me his life story.
(2) She laced her coffee with brandy.
(3) Would you a liquor or brandy, or what kind of wine do you prefer?

(1) Tall trees surround the lake.
(2) The lake is surrounded with/by trees.
(3) the membranes surrounding the brain

(1) It's not to be expected that an ox and an ass should worship at the crib.
(2) I'm very hungry, and I can now stow away an ox.
(3) Seize a horse by the mane, and lead an ox by the nose.

(1) In the distance, the sky was beginning to brighten.
(2) a shampoo to brighten and condition your hair
(3) Her eyes brightened.

(1) A man was crawling away from the burning wreckage.
(2) There's a spider crawling up your leg.
(3) The traffic was crawling along.

(1) An army of ants marched across the path.
(2) an army of advisers/volunteers
(3) an army officer

(1) atmospheric pollution/conditions/pressure
(2) atmospheric music
(3) ...atmospheric gases.

(1) All the signs and announcements were rendered in English and spanish.
(2) The spanish media were still sniping at the British press yesterday.
(3) Clare and David Astor are sketching a view of far spanish hills.

(1) the royal princesses
(2) princess Anne
(3) the princess of Wales

(1) Give details of children where applicable (= if you have any) .
(2) [不可数名词]The new approach had wide applicability to all sorts of different problems.
(3) Much of the form was not applicable (= did not apply) to me.

(1) a lake with an island in the middle
(2) He was standing in the middle of the room.
(3) The phone rang in the middle of the night.

(1) a feeling of doubt and uncertainty
(2) There is some doubt about the best way to do it.
(3) There is no doubt at all that we did the right thing.

(1) ‘Do you think all this money will change your life? ’ ‘certainly not. ’
(2) Without treatment, she will almost certainly die.
(3) certainly, the early years are crucial to a child's development.

(1) We disagree with every point Mr Blunkett makes...
(2) Dave Hill's article makes the right point about the Taylor Report...
(3) 'If he'd already killed once, surely he'd have killed Sarah?' She had a point there...

(1) an interesting question/point/example
(2) interesting people/places/work
(3) It would be interesting to know what he really believed.

(1) He told the news to everybody he saw.
(2) He told everybody he saw the news.
(3) Why wasn't I told about the accident?

(1) to study architecture
(2) the architecture of the eighteenth century
(3) modern architecture

(1) the base of a column/glass
(2) a pain at the base of the spine
(3) The lamp has a heavy base.

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

(1) You can claim back your travelling/travel expenses.
(2) We were taken out for a meal at the company's expense.
(3) He built up the business at the expense of his health.

(1) to undo a button/knot/zip, etc.
(2) to undo a jacket/shirt, etc.
(3) I undid the package and took out the books.

(1) He looks like Father Christmas...
(2) Kathy is a great mate, we are like sisters...
(3) What was Bulgaria like?...

(1) Kaspar had spoken know-ledgeably about the state of agriculture in europe.
(2) He is one of the most wanted criminals in europe.
(3) Physical and ideological barriers had come down in Eastern europe.