(1) to retain your independence
(2) He struggled to retain control of the situation.
(3) The house retains much of its original charm.

(1) My prime concern is to protect my property.
(2) Winning is not the prime objective in this sport.
(3) The care of the environment is of prime importance.

(1) builders' merchants (= who sell supplies to the building trade)
(2) a coal/wine merchant
(3) Venice was once a city of rich merchants.

(1) the ministry of Defence
(2) a ministry spokesperson
(3) ...the ministry of Justice.

(1) We received only two tenths of an inch of rain during the entire month of June.
(2) Assuming he does race, Hamilton will start from tenth on the grid.
(3) One tenth is the correct portion to allocate.

(1) to treat people with respect/consideration/suspicion, etc.
(2) treat your keyboard with care and it should last for years.
(3) My parents still treat me like a child.

(1) He put name tags on all his shirts.
(2) a gift tag (= tied to a present)
(3) The police use electronic tags to monitor the whereabouts of young offenders on probation.

(1) You must be able to speak French for this job.
(2) A viral illness left her barely able to walk.
(3) I didn't feel able to disagree with him.

(1) They fished a dead body out of the river.
(2) She fished a piece of paper out of the pile on her desk.
(3) fish stocks in the Baltic are in decline.

(1) Don't shoot─I surrender.
(2) troops shooting at the enemy
(3) a serious shooting incident

(1) tourists from every corner of the globe
(2) ...a globe of the world...
(3) Three large globes stand on the floor.

(1) What a nice surprise!
(2) a surprise attack
(3) There are few surprises in this year's budget.

(1) Don't you believe in equality between men and women?
(2) the principle of equality before the law (= the law treats everyone the same)
(3) equality of opportunity

(1) They'll eat almost anything.
(2) almost no one (= hardly anyone) believed him.
(3) It's almost time to go.

(1) Stop throwing stones at the window!
(2) She threw the ball up and caught it again.
(3) He spent hours throwing a tennis ball against a wall...

(1) [不可数名词](formal)No one questions the desirability of cheaper fares.
(2) (British English)It is desirable that interest rates should be reduced.
(3) (North Amercian English)It is desirable that interest rates be reduced.

(1) The case was dismissed.
(2) At 12 o'clock the class was dismissed.
(3) She claims she was unfairly dismissed from her post.

(1) Storms have caused structural damage to hundreds of homes.
(2) structural changes in society
(3) The building is structurally sound.

(1) Although not essential, some prior knowledge of statistics is desirable.
(2) This information must not be disclosed without prior written consent .
(3) Visits are by prior arrangement .

(1) The house is clearly visible from the beach.
(2) Most stars are not visible to the naked eye .
(3) visible benefits

(1) In summer we have to mow the lawn twice a week.
(2) a croquet lawn
(3) They were sitting on the lawn under a large beech tree.

(1) Theoretically he had control over more than $400 million in US accounts. But, in fact, it was the US Treasury and State Department who controlled those accounts...
(2) They have the aircraft capable of doing significant damage, because most of those aircraft are capable of launching anti-ship missiles.
(3) What are those buildings?...

(1) at a future date
(2) This deal could safeguard the futures of the 2 000 employees.
(3) She has a great future ahead of her.

(1) The new design will eventually replace all existing models.
(2) Teachers will never be replaced by computers in the classroom.
(3) He will be difficult to replace when he leaves.

(1) I've done nothing much since coffee time...
(2) Mr Pearson said he knew nothing of his wife's daytime habits...
(3) Because he had always had money it meant nothing to him...

(1) She piled the papers in a heap on her desk, just anyhow.
(2) ...her long legs which she displayed all anyhow getting in and out of her car.
(3) We managed to get what we wanted, anyhow.

(1) The crowd went crazy when the band came on stage.
(2) You're so beautiful you're driving me crazy .
(3) I've been crazy about him since the first time I saw him.

(1) You will be fined the sum of £200.
(2) a large sum of money
(3) a six-figure sum

(1) We work every day except Sunday.
(2) They all came except Matt.
(3) I had nothing on except for my socks.

(1) We must harness the skill and creativity of our workforce.
(2) attempts to harness the sun's rays as a source of energy
(3) (figurative)In some areas, the poor feel harnessed to their jobs.

(1) a danger/warning/distress etc. signal
(2) At an agreed signal they left the room.
(3) The siren was a signal for everyone to leave the building.

(1) I heard the door slam behind him.
(2) A window slammed shut in the wind.
(3) He stormed out of the house, slamming the door as he left.

(1) Don't you know it's rude to whisper?
(2) What are you two whispering about?
(3) ‘Can you meet me tonight? ’ he whispered.

(1) nuts and bolts
(2) Her dismissal came as a bolt from the blue.
(3) Don't forget to bolt the door.

(1) We foolishly thought that everyone would speak English.
(2) foolishly, I allowed myself to be persuaded to enter the contest.
(3) [不可数名词]Jenny had to laugh at her own foolishness.

(1) the Greek philosopher Aristotle
(2) He seems to be a bit of a philosopher.
(3) ...the Greek philosopher Plato.

(1) I want a drink...
(2) Ian knows exactly what he wants in life...
(3) I want to say how really delighted I am that you're having a baby...

(1) an insurance agent
(2) Our agent in New York deals with all US sales.
(3) a theatrical/literary agent

(1) Success was within her grasp .
(2) These complex formulae are beyond the grasp of the average pupil.
(3) Don't let the situation escape from your grasp.

(1) [不可数名词]a sense/feeling of hopelessness
(2) ‘I'll never manage it, ’ he said hopelessly.
(3) to be hopelessly in love