(1) We've certainly improved on last year's figures.
(2) I need to improve my French.
(3) to improve standards

(1) They hope this new evidence will prove her innocence.
(2) ‘I know you're lying. ’ ‘prove it! ’
(3) Just give me a chance and I'll prove it to you.

(1) ‘Coffee or tea? ’ ‘I'd prefer tea, thanks. ’
(2) I much prefer jazz to rock music.
(3) I would prefer it if you didn't tell anyone.

(1) in perfect condition
(2) a perfect set of teeth
(3) Well I'm sorry─but nobody's perfect (= used when sb has criticized you) .

(1) It's easy to make a mistake .
(2) This letter is addressed to someone else─there must be some mistake.
(3) It would be a mistake to ignore his opinion.

(1) We had to carry the piano up three flights of stairs .
(2) The children ran up/down the stairs .
(3) at the bottom/top of the stairs

(1) a bachelor of Arts/Engineering/Science
(2) an eligible bachelor (= one that many people want to marry, especially because he is rich)
(3) a confirmed bachelor (= a person who does not intend to marry; often used in newspapers to refer to a homosexual man)

(1) pop/dance/classical/church music
(2) to listen to music
(3) She could hear music playing somewhere.

(1) to earn/establish/build a reputation
(2) to have a good/bad reputation
(3) She soon acquired a reputation as a first-class cook.

(1) alcoholic drinks
(2) The guests left in an alcoholic haze.
(3) He showed great courage by admitting that he is an alcoholic.

(1) a trip to the seaside
(2) a day at/by the seaside
(3) [只用于名词前]a seaside resort

(1) war and peace
(2) peace talks/negotiations
(3) The negotiators are trying to make peace between the warring factions.

(1) She is still weak after her illness.
(2) His legs felt weak.
(3) She suffered from a weak heart.

(1) to open/close a bank account
(2) Head office can order the transfer to your designated bank account.
(3) Remember the money in your bank account has already been converted.

(1) This technology is still in its early stages .
(2) The children are at different stages of development.
(3) The product is at the design stage.

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

(1) She wore a small gold cross on a chain around her neck.
(2) Those who could not write signed with a cross.
(3) Sign your name on the form where I've put a cross.

(1) to express/feel sympathy for sb
(2) I have no sympathy for Jan, it's all her own fault.
(3) I wish he'd show me a little more sympathy.

(1) Her speech was punctuated by bursts of applause.
(2) The silence of the night was punctuated by the distant rumble of traffic.
(3) He made gestures to punctuate his speech.

(1) They had to leave at midnight .
(2) on the stroke of midnight/shortly after midnight
(3) She heard the clock strike midnight.

(1) The gale blew down hundreds of trees.
(2) gale-force winds
(3) (British English)It's blowing a gale outside (= a strong wind is blowing) .

(1) ‘In fact, ’ he continued, ‘I'd like to congratulate you. ’
(2) Please continue─I didn't mean to interrupt.
(3) The story will be continued in our next issue.

(1) Riyadh got 25 mm of rain in just 12 hours.
(2) "I think the earlier ones are a lot better." —"mm, definitely."
(3) "mm," she answered drowsily.

(1) The British prime minister is too apt to cling to Washington's apron strings.
(2) Mom has just bought a very beautiful yellow apron.
(3) A maid a white apron opened the door.

(1) men, women and children
(2) a 24-year-old woman
(3) I prefer to see a woman doctor.

(1) Hollywood's golden boy
(2) Businesses have a golden opportunity to expand into new markets.
(3) golden memories

(1) to be interested in wildlife conservation
(2) to encourage the conservation of water/fuel
(3) energy conservation

(1) We finished later than we had intended.
(2) I fully intended (= definitely intended) to pay for the damage.
(3) The writer clearly intends his readers to identify with the main character.

(1) She gives piano lessons.
(2) All new students are given lessons in/on how to use the library.
(3) I'm having/taking driving lessons.

(1) (British English)a rent book (= used to record payments of rent)
(2) How much rent do you pay for this place?
(3) The landlord has put the rent up again.

(1) an office cleaner
(2) a vacuum cleaner
(3) a bottle of kitchen cleaner

(1) a tasty meal
(2) something tasty to eat
(3) Try this tasty dish for supper with a crispy salad...

(1) a peacock feather
(2) a feather pillow (= one containing feathers)
(3) ...a hat that she had made herself from black ostrich feathers.

(1) He never drinks alcohol.
(2) alcohol abuse
(3) Wine contains about 10% alcohol.

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

(1) (sport 体)a left back/wing
(2) a left hook
(3) Fewer people write with their left hand than with their right.

(1) a digital camera
(2) digital terrestrial and digital satellite broadcasting
(3) a digital clock/watch

(1) My windbreaker was waterproof, so that definitely kept my body dry.
(2) This windbreaker is perfect for spring.
(3) Both the style and color of the men's windbreaker suit you very much.

(1) a grain of sand
(2) Concrete is a mixture of sand and cement.
(3) His hair was the colour of sand.