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

(1) That section of the road is still closed.
(2) The library has a large biology section.
(3) the tail section of the plane

(1) He resigned as manager after eight years.
(2) Two members resigned from the board in protest.
(3) My father resigned his directorship last year.

(1) She closed the door softly behind her.
(2) ‘I missed you, ’ he said softly.
(3) The room was softly lit by a lamp.

(1) We stayed overnight in London after the theatre.
(2) Don't expect it to improve overnight.
(3) an overnight flight

(1) to squeeze a tube of toothpaste
(2) to squeeze the trigger of a gun (= to fire it)
(3) He squeezed her hand and smiled at her.

(1) a ray/pool of sunlight
(2) shafts of bright sunlight
(3) The morning sunlight flooded into the room.

(1) to take/have/hold French nationality
(2) All applicants will be considered regardless of age, sex, religion or nationality.
(3) The college attracts students of all nationalities.

(1) a fatal accident/blow/illness
(2) a potentially fatal form of cancer
(3) If she gets ill again it could prove fatal .

(1) a glass of water
(2) drinking water
(3) water pollution

(1) Your opinion will not affect my decision.
(2) The south of the country was worst affected by the drought.
(3) The condition affects one in five women.

(1) She has little patience with (= will not accept or consider) such views.
(2) People have lost patience with (= have become annoyed about) the slow pace of reform.
(3) My patience is wearing thin.

(1) A matter of repeated occurrence like this will not astonish people.
(2) My news will astonish you.
(3) He purposed to both charm and astonish me by his appearance.

(1) Let's sit in the shade and keep cool.
(2) Store lemons in a cool dry place.
(3) a room painted in cool greens and blues

(1) abnormal levels of sugar in the blood
(2) They thought his behaviour was abnormal.
(3) abnormally high blood pressure

(1) He was found not guilty because of holes in the prosecution case.
(2) She won the first hole.
(3) He liked to play a few holes after work.

(1) an unkind remark
(2) He was never actually unkind to them.
(3) It would be unkind to go without him.

(1) He asked where I lived.
(2) I had to ask the teacher what to do next.
(3) I was asked if/whether I could drive.

(1) Her specialist input to the discussions has been very useful.
(2) I'd appreciate your input on this.
(3) There has been a big input of resources into the project from industry.

(1) a decision of major political significance
(2) The new drug has great significance for the treatment of the disease.
(3) They discussed the statistical significance of the results.

(1) These jeans need washing.
(2) to wash the car
(3) to wash your hands

(1) a resident of the United States
(2) There were confrontations between local residents and the police.
(3) The hotel restaurant is open to non-residents.

(1) He works as a painter and decorator.
(2) a famous painter
(3) a portrait/landscape painter

(1) aerial/satellite photographs
(2) colour photographs
(3) Please enclose a recent passport-sized photograph of yourself.

(1) hot and cold water pipes
(2) lead/plastic pipes
(3) a leaking gas pipe

(1) His muscles bunched under his shirt.
(2) Her skirt had bunched up round her waist.
(3) His forehead was bunched in a frown.

(1) young babies
(2) a young country
(3) Caterpillars eat the young leaves of this plant.

(1) (North Amercian English) community parks/libraries (= paid for by the local town/city)
(2) The local community was shocked by the murders.
(3) health workers based in the community (= working with people in a local area)

(1) a medical/science, etc. student
(2) a graduate/postgraduate/research student
(3) an overseas student

(1) Too many uncomfortable thoughts were crowding in on her.
(2) Photographers were crowding around outside.
(3) Memories crowded his mind.

(1) This is my husband, Steve.
(2) They lived together as husband and wife (= as if they were married) for years.
(3) a husband-and-wife team

(1) She's not a political animal.
(2) The government which followed the election was a very different animal.
(3) animal desires/passion/instincts

(1) A large proportion of the nation's households are hooked up to the Internet.
(2) Check that the computer is hooked up to the printer.
(3) She was then hooked up to an IV drip.

(1) ...the debut single from the new five-piece fronted by singer Melissa Heathcoate.
(2) Officers will crack down on lunatic motorists who speed or drive too close to the car in front...
(3) 'What's with this guy?' demanded an American voice in the row in front.

(1) a papal bull
(2) That's a load of bull!
(3) a bull neck (= a short thick neck like a bull's )

(1) They had a house built for them.
(2) David built us a shed in the back yard.
(3) They're going to build on the site of the old power station.

(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) a democratic country
(2) a democratic system
(3) democratic government

(1) an economy fare (= the cheapest)
(2) We need to make substantial economies.
(3) It's a false economy to buy cheap clothes (= it seems cheaper but it is not really since they do not last very long) .

(1) uncomfortable shoes
(2) I couldn't sleep because the bed was so uncomfortable.
(3) I was sitting in an extremely uncomfortable position.