(1) a mail service/train/van
(2) the Royal mail
(3) Your cheque is in the mail.

(1) Who cooked this? It's delicious.
(2) the delicious coolness of the breeze
(3) deliciously creamy soup

(1) He's always begging off at the last minute.
(2) ‘Just go away. ’ ‘I beg your pardon! ’
(3) She begged that she be allowed to go.

(1) to support a proposal
(2) The government supported the unions in their demand for a minimum wage.
(3) These measures are strongly supported by environmental groups.

(1) a car with good acceleration
(2) an acceleration in the rate of economic growth
(3) ...the sharp acceleration in job losses.

(1) In politics Britain has preferred evolution to revolution (= gradual development to sudden violent change) .
(2) the evolution of the human species
(3) Darwin's theory of evolution

(1) The concert is to be headlined by Elton John.
(2) The story was headlined ‘Back to the future ’.
(3) headline news

(1) I was dropping with fatigue and could not keep my eyes open.
(2) battle fatigue
(3) The wing of the plane showed signs of metal fatigue .

(1) His new book will be appearing in the spring.
(2) It was too late to prevent the story from appearing in the national newspapers.
(3) He has appeared in over 60 movies.

(1) a beer/wine barrel
(2) They got through two barrels of beer.
(3) Oil prices fell to $9 a barrel.

(1) In the end the contrary was proved true: he was innocent and she was guilty.
(2) ‘It must have been terrible. ’ ‘On the contrary, I enjoyed every minute. ’
(3) I don't find him funny at all. Quite the contrary.

(1) measurable improvements
(2) Working conditions have changed measurably in the last ten years.
(3) Both leaders seemed to expect measurable progress.

(1) I've made a few small corrections to your report.
(2) The paper had to publish a correction to the story.
(3) There are some programming errors that need correction.

(1) You're not still brooding over what he said, are you?
(2) ...a large brood of children.
(3) I guess everyone broods over things once in a while...

(1) ice/salt crystals
(2) a pair of crystal earrings
(3) a crystal chandelier/vase

(1) a curtain of rain/smoke
(2) She pushed back the curtain of brown hair from her eyes.
(3) When I saw he had a gun, I thought it was curtains for me.

(1) Have you arranged to meet him?
(2) I've arranged that we can borrow their car.
(3) The books are arranged alphabetically by author.

(1) to have a sore throat
(2) His feet were sore after the walk.
(3) My stomach is still sore (= painful) after the operation.

(1) Such jokes tend to reinforce racial stereotypes.
(2) The climate of political confusion has only reinforced the country's economic decline.
(3) Success in the talks will reinforce his reputation as an international statesman.

(1) The incident illustrates the need for better security measures.
(2) Last year's sales figures are illustrated in Figure 2.
(3) To illustrate my point , let me tell you a little story.

(1) My grandmothers are both widows.
(2) The movement rapidly gained ground.
(3) Move over and let your grandmother sit down.

(1) That grocer never overcharges.
(2) I owe the grocer.
(3) The grocer gave her the groceries that he had gathered and stood in stunned silence.

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

(1) ‘I will ’ and ‘I shall ’ are usually contracted to ‘I'll ’ (= made shorter) .
(2) They were sued for breach of contract (= not keeping to a contract) .
(3) to take out a contract on sb

(1) He looked sideways at her.
(2) The truck skidded sideways across the road.
(3) He has been moved sideways (= moved to another job at the same level as before, not higher or lower) .

(1) an awards/opening ceremony
(2) a wedding/marriage ceremony
(3) Please don't stand on ceremony (= Please be natural and relaxed) with me.

(1) He handed over the money with typical bad grace.
(2) He didn't even have the grace to look embarrassed.
(3) Their graces the Duke and Duchess of Kent.

(1) renewable energy sources
(2) Your local library will be a useful source of information.
(3) What is their main source of income?

(1) economic/social/political trends
(2) There is a growing trend towards earlier retirement.
(3) current trends in language teaching

(1) net curtains
(2) fishing nets
(3) a mosquito net (= used to protect you from mosquitoes )

(1) Her voice is instantly recognizable.
(2) The driver was killed instantly.
(3) For an instant, Catherine was tempted to flee...

(1) Leaves whirled in the wind.
(2) She whirled around to face him.
(3) the whirling blades of the helicopter

(1) Marriages usually break down as a result of the shortcomings of both partners...
(2) His book has its shortcomings.
(3) The importance advantages and shortcoming of the orimulsion imported from Venezula are analyzed in the paper.

(1) There is one particular patient I'd like you to see.
(2) Is there a particular type of book he enjoys?
(3) We must pay particular attention to this point.

(1) Stop shouting and listen!
(2) I shouted for help but nobody came.
(3) She shouted at him to shut the gate.

(1) Careless drivers hazard other people's lives as well as their own.
(2) ‘Is it Tom you're going with? ’ she hazarded.
(3) Would you like to hazard a guess ?

(1) He likes no sports game except badminton.
(2) They play badminton, or walk briskly backwards.
(3) Do you always play badminton at home?

(1) I always associate the smell of baking with my childhood.
(2) He is closely associated in the public mind with horror movies.
(3) I don't like you associating with those people.

(1) The ironing board folds flat for easy storage.
(2) She gently folded the baby in a blanket.
(3) She folded a blanket around the baby.

(1) They complained about the excessive noise coming from the upstairs flat.
(2) The amounts she borrowed were not excessive.
(3) excessive drinking can lead to stomach disorders.