(1) the outer layers of the skin
(2) I walked along the outer edge of the track.
(3) the outer suburbs of the city

(1) Keep a record of all the payments...
(2) There's no record of any marriage or children...
(3) ...software packages which record the details of your photographs.

(1) the Democratic and Republican Parties in the United States
(2) She belongs to the Labour party.
(3) the ruling/opposition party

(1) (British English)When shall I do the shopping ?
(2) (British English)We do our shopping on Saturdays.
(3) a shopping basket

(1) a slow driver
(2) Progress was slower than expected.
(3) The country is experiencing slow but steady economic growth.

(1) We need to establish where she was at the time of the shooting.
(2) It has since been established that the horse was drugged.
(3) He has just set up his own business but it will take him a while to get established .

(1) the keeper of geology at the museum
(2) 'I don't know where he is,' Hughes replied. 'I'm not his keeper.'
(3) The book keeper figured well.

(1) one of the largest employers in the area
(2) They're very good employers (= they treat the people that work for them well) .
(3) He had been sent to Rome by his employer...

(1) a naked body
(2) naked shoulders
(3) They often wandered around the house stark naked (= completely naked) .

(1) He puffed (away) on his pipe.
(2) I sat puffing my cigar.
(3) Chimneys were puffing out clouds of smoke.

(1) The heat was becoming unbearable.
(2) unbearable pain
(3) He's been unbearable since he won that prize.

(1) Stand with your arms by your side and your head erect.
(2) The church was erected in 1582.
(3) Police had to erect barriers to keep crowds back.

(1) fancy a drink?
(2) She didn't fancy (= did not like) the idea of going home in the dark.
(3) Do you fancy going out this evening?

(1) When exactly did the incident occur?
(2) Something unexpected occurred.
(3) Sugar occurs naturally in fruit.

(1) She tucked up her skirt and waded into the river.
(2) The sheets should be tucked in neatly (= around the bed) .
(3) tuck the flap of the envelope in.

(1) a vision of a brave new Britain
(2) an award for outstanding bravery
(3) acts of skill and bravery

(1) She can count up to 10 in Italian.
(2) to count from 1 to 10
(3) The diet is based on counting calories.

(1) methods of income generation
(2) the generation of electricity
(3) a new generation of vehicle

(1) irregular teeth
(2) an irregular outline
(3) irregular meals

(1) The cost of borrowing has been excluded from the inflation figures.
(2) Try excluding fat from your diet.
(3) Buses run every hour, Sundays excluded.

(1) Colours like red convey a sense of energy and strength.
(2) (formal)Please convey my apologies to your wife.
(3) He tried desperately to convey how urgent the situation was.

(1) There was a complete stranger sitting at my desk.
(2) They got on well together although they were total strangers .
(3) We've told our daughter not to speak to strangers.

(1) The principal reason for this omission is lack of time.
(2) New roads will link the principal cities of the area.
(3) Peter Brown, principal of St John's college

(1) The instructions look very complicated.
(2) It's all very complicated─but I'll try and explain.
(3) a complicated system

(1) the ten of diamonds
(2) You must play a diamond if you have one.
(3) The lights shone like diamonds.

(1) railroad tracks
(2) This town got a lot bigger when the railroad came in the 1860s.
(3) The bill was railroaded through the House.

(1) a long column of troops and tanks
(2) to add up a column of figures
(3) a column of text

(1) to develop a strategy for dealing with unemployment
(2) It's all part of an overall strategy to gain promotion.
(3) the government's economic strategy

(1) She guested on several chat shows while visiting Britain.
(2) ‘Do you mind if I use the phone? ’ ‘Be my guest. ’
(3) a guest speaker

(1) Does it bother you that she earns more than you?
(2) It bothers me to think of her alone in that big house.
(3) Stop bothering me when I'm working.

(1) She floated down the steps to greet us.
(2) They floated the idea of increased taxes on alcohol.
(3) The company was floated on the stock market in 2001.

(1) a quarter of a mile
(2) The programme lasted an hour and a quarter.
(3) Cut the apple into quarters.

(1) She has lived here for 10 years...
(2) She always said I ought to live alone...
(3) We lived quite grandly...

(1) The cat was washing itself.
(2) Does the VCR turn itself off?
(3) The company has got itself into difficulties.

(1) She was employed as a cook in a hotel.
(2) Who was the cook (= who cooked the food) ?
(3) to cook up a story

(1) poisonous chemicals/plants
(2) This gas is highly poisonous.
(3) The leaves of certain trees are poisonous to cattle.

(1) The museum is closed while essential repairs are being carried out.
(2) It is essential to keep the two groups separate.
(3) It is essential that you have some experience.

(1) He couldn't conceal his envy of me.
(2) She felt a pang of envy at the thought of his success.
(3) They looked with envy at her latest purchase.

(1) I have a hectic schedule for the next few days.
(2) We're working to a tight schedule (= we have a lot of things to do in a short time) .
(3) Filming began on schedule (= at the planned time) .

(1) a 33% reduction in the number of hospital beds available
(2) There has been some reduction in unemployment.
(3) a slight/significant/substantial/drastic reduction in costs