(1) The population has increased from 1.2 million to 1.8 million.
(2) The rate of inflation increased by 2%.
(3) The price of oil increased.

(1) The sudden contraction of the markets left them with a lot of unwanted stock.
(2) The contractions started coming every five minutes.
(3) ‘He's ’ may be a contraction of ‘he is ’ or ‘he has ’.

(1) There have been growing signs of a ra-pprochement with vietnam.
(2) vietnam has emerged as the world's third-biggest rice exporter.
(3) Money will also go into local development projects in vietnam.

(1) music and lyrics by Rodgers and Hart
(2) ...Kurt Weill's Broadway opera with lyrics by Langston Hughes.
(3) ...Lawrence's splendid short stories and lyric poetry.

(1) I put another steak on the barbecue.
(2) a barbecue sausage (= cooked in this way)
(3) Let's have a barbecue!

(1) To be in agreement or accord. harmonize.

(1) She ran her fingers through her hair.
(2) Hold the material between finger and thumb.
(3) He was about to speak but she raised a finger to her lips.

(1) The optometrist will work out a pair of new spectacles to your satisfaction.
(2) If your need glasses, you should see an optometrist.
(3) As far as I know It'seems Hangzhou optometrist does not have a specific training center.

(1) I have to get up and turn off the radio.
(2) The boy had the presence of mind to turn off the gas.
(3) We missed the turn-off for the airport.

(1) an art/a picture gallery
(2) the National gallery
(3) Relatives of the victim watched from the public gallery as the murder charge was read out in court.

(1) Most of the houses are built of stone.
(2) stone walls
(3) a stone floor

(1) the latest unemployment figures
(2) the latest craze/fashion/trend
(3) her latest novel

(1) (figurative)As a child he would often escape into a dreamworld of his own.
(2) They were glad to have escaped the clutches of winter for another year.
(3) She was lucky to escape punishment.

(1) Beware of dishonest traders in the tourist areas.
(2) I don't like him, and it would be dishonest of me to pretend otherwise.
(3) You have been dishonest with me...

(1) garbage collection
(2) Don't forget to take out the garbage.
(3) Throw it in the garbage.

(1) The yellow river surges onward like ten thousand horses galloping.
(2) The yellow river changed its course to the sea on 26 occasions.
(3) The yellow river has been harnessed.

(1) The project is in its final stages.
(2) I'd like to return to the final point you made.
(3) the final product

(1) We were in the same class at school.
(2) She is the youngest in her class.
(3) He came top of the class .

(1) An interesting feature of the city is the old market.
(2) Teamwork is a key feature of the training programme.
(3) Which features do you look for when choosing a car?

(1) He stood there with his arms lifted above his head.
(2) I lifted the lid of the box and peered in.
(3) (figurative)John lifted his eyes (= looked up) from his book.

(1) to be/look/seem/sound unhappy
(2) an unhappy childhood
(3) I didn't realize but he was deeply unhappy at that time.

(1) It was possibly their worst performance ever.
(2) She found it difficult to get on with her, possibly because of the difference in their ages.
(3) ‘Will you be around next week? ’ ‘possibly. ’

(1) a dog/factory owner
(2) The painting has been returned to its rightful owner .
(3) He's now the proud owner of a cottage in Wales.

(1) A crown, decorated with jewels, separates the headdress from the hair band.
(2) She often wears a hair band on her head.
(3) It't be Annie's hair band. It has her name on it.

(1) It's a nice day. Let's go for a picnic .
(2) We had a picnic beside the river.
(3) Let's eat our picnic by the lake.

(1) My heart was in my mouth when I walked into her office.
(2) He appealed to his countrymen not to lose heart.
(3) I tried to learn some lines but my heart wasn't really in it.

(1) North Africans make up the largest and poorest immigrant group in the country...
(2) Women officers make up 13 per cent of the police force...
(3) I think it's very unkind of you to make up stories about him...

(1) a packet of chocolate biscuits
(2) a selection of cheese biscuits
(3) You've done some stupid things before, but this really takes the biscuit!

(1) a job interview
(2) to be called for (an) interview
(3) He has an interview next week for the manager's job.

(1) And he said unto him, "Who is my neighbor?"
(2) "Who is it?" he called.— 'It's your neighbor.'
(3) He matched his dog against his neighbor's in a race.

(1) a crucial factor/issue/decision
(2) topics of crucial importance
(3) Winning this contract is crucial to the success of the company.

(1) a helicopter pilot
(2) a police helicopter
(3) He was rushed to the hospital by helicopter .

(1) I'm tired of having to pretend all the time.
(2) Of course I was wrong; it would be hypocritical to pretend otherwise .
(3) He pretended to his family that everything was fine.

(1) the director of education
(2) the musical director
(3) a regional director

(1) He conned his way into the job using false references.
(2) The so-called bargain was just a big con!
(3) (British English)a con trick

(1) To offer end item, must produce piece for all sorts of semifinished product that use up.
(2) Then comes the mutual alert between people that may finally use up our wit and strength.
(3) Discussed reduce upper material to use up, the method that raises overall material utilization factor.

(1) They're not married, actually.
(2) actually, I'll be a bit late home.
(3) actually, I'm busy at the moment─can I call you back?

(1) He can't help thinking it's all just "pie in the sky" talk.
(2) Her silk shirtdress was sky-blue, the colour of her eyes.
(3) Suddenly a bolt of lightning crackled through the sky.

(1) The dreaded sea monster has been eating fisherman.
(2) In the opera he plays the part of an old fisherman.
(3) Then a cod with a grin pulled the fisherman in.

(1) The room smelt damp.
(2) Dinner smells good.
(3) a bunch of sweet-smelling flowers