(1) I'm truly sorry that things had to end like this.
(2) a truly memorable occasion
(3) a truly democratic system of government

(1) I look ridiculous in this hat.
(2) Don't be ridiculous! You can't pay £50 for a T-shirt!
(3) The meal was ridiculously expensive.

(1) She didn't give an adequate explanation for being late.
(2) The book opens with an explanation of why some drugs are banned.
(3) an explanation as to why he had left early

(1) a clever child
(2) clever girl!
(3) How clever of you to work it out!

(1) to learn a language/a musical instrument/a skill
(2) I learned a lot from my father.
(3) You can learn a great deal just from watching other players.

(1) seaman Bates
(2) a merchant seaman
(3) The men emigrate to work as seamen.

(1) We are asking people to boycott goods from companies that use child labour.
(2) a trade boycott of British goods
(3) a boycott on the use of tropical wood

(1) damage to both urban and rural environments
(2) urban areas
(3) urban life

(1) statistical analysis
(2) The book is an analysis of poverty and its causes.
(3) The blood samples are sent to the laboratory for analysis .

(1) the scene of the accident/attack/crime
(2) Firefighters were on the scene immediately.
(3) The team's victory produced scenes of joy all over the country.

(1) I'll send the original to you by post .
(2) I'll put the information in the post to you tomorrow.
(3) My application got lost in the post .

(1) Give me a dozen, please.
(2) two dozen eggs
(3) three dozen red roses

(1) manual labour (= work using your hands)
(2) The price will include the labour and materials.
(3) The company wants to keep down labour costs .

(1) He was punished for disobeying orders.
(2) ...a naughty boy who often disobeyed his mother and father...
(3) He urged Russian soldiers to disobey orders if asked to fire on civilian targets...

(1) religious/cultural, etc. traditions
(2) This region is steeped in tradition .
(3) The company has a long tradition of fine design.

(1) Doctors think he will go blind .
(2) blind and partially sighted people
(3) One of her parents is blind.

(1) a packet/pack of cigarettes
(2) to light a cigarette
(3) He went out to buy a packet of cigarettes.

(1) everyone brought their partner to the party.
(2) (formal)everyone brought his or her partner to the party.
(3) The police questioned everyone in the room.

(1) a mild/severe/hard winter
(2) Our house can be very cold in (the) winter .
(3) They worked on the building all through the winter.

(1) Sit wherever you like.
(2) He comes from Boula, wherever that may be (= I don't know where it is) .
(3) wherever she goes, there are crowds of people waiting to see her.

(1) As regards the war, Haig believed in victory at any price.
(2) I was touched to find that he regards me as engaging.
(3) My best regards to Mary.

(1) to roast a chicken
(2) the smell of roasting meat
(3) roasted chestnuts

(1) The syllabus lists the knowledge and competences required at this level.
(2) outside sb's area of competence
(3) The judge has to act within the competence of the court.

(1) a bus conductor
(2) Wood is a poor conductor.
(3) Copper is a good conductor of heat.

(1) I certainly think there should be a ban on tobacco advertising...
(2) Do you think I ought to seal the boxes up?...
(3) Nora thought he was seventeen years old...

(1) The first arrivals at the concert got the best seats.
(2) early/late/new arrivals
(3) We're expecting a new arrival (= a baby) in the family soon.

(1) He can't bear to be laughed at.
(2) Her later work does not bear comparison with her earlier novels (= because it is not nearly as good) .
(3) The pain was almost more than he could bear.

(1) (British English)I haven't received a letter from him yet.
(2) (North Amercian English)I didn't receive a letter from him yet.
(3) ‘Are you ready? ’ ‘No, not yet. ’

(1) It is a purely academic question.
(2) The whole thing's academic now─we can't win anyway.
(3) You have to do well academically to get into medical school.

(1) Designing silicon chips to mimic human organs sounds fanciful.
(2) I went and bought about six dollars' worth of potato chips.
(3) We ate chips every night, but hardly ever had fish.

(1) Dickens felt compelled to return to the stage for a final good-bye.
(2) We said good - bye, then he turned and walked off without another word.
(3) If you lend him money, you can kiss it good - bye.

(1) to make a purchase (= buy sth)
(2) Keep your receipt as proof of purchase .
(3) The company has just announced its £27 million purchase of Park Hotel.

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

(1) a golf/squash/tennis, etc. tournament
(2) We are pleased to announce the tournament schedule the coming year.
(3) Japan have appeared at FIFA Women's World Cup, including the inaugural tournament in 1991.

(1) the local rag
(2) rag week
(3) The children were dressed in rags.

(1) an oil tanker
(2) A Greek oil tanker has run aground.
(3) ...an accident involving a petrol tanker on the M27, east of Southampton.

(1) a boxing champion/match
(2) heavyweight boxing
(3) Some speakers argued that boxing was less dangerous than rugby.

(1) He braked suddenly, causing the front wheels to skid.
(2) One of the boys was pushing the other along in a little box on wheels .
(3) This is the first time I've sat behind the wheel since the accident.

(1) The swiss wanted to discourage an inflow of foreign money.
(2) Investors would do well to take a look at the swiss economy.
(3) swiss fans cheered Jakob Hlasek during yesterday's match with Courier.

(1) a specialist in Japanese history
(2) a cancer specialist
(3) [只用于名词前]specialist magazines