(1) I like films with plenty of action.
(2) New York is where the action is .
(3) the action of sunlight on the skin

(1) Tents come in various shapes and sizes.
(2) She took the job for various reasons.
(3) There are various ways of doing this.

(1) I'm always emailing her, but nine times out of ten she doesn't reply.
(2) I work nine to five.
(3) a nine-to-five job

(1) Have you seen her lately?
(2) It's only lately that she's been well enough to go out.
(3) (British English)I haven't been sleeping well just lately.

(1) a consultation process
(2) to begin the difficult process of reforming the education system
(3) I'm afraid getting things changed will be a slow process.

(1) You can congratulate yourself on having done an excellent job.
(2) The authors are to be congratulated on producing such a clear and authoritative work.
(3) I congratulated them all on their results.

(1) You push and I'll pull.
(2) Don't pull so hard or the handle will come off.
(3) I pulled on the rope to see if it was secure.

(1) abstract knowledge/principles
(2) The research shows that preschool children are capable of thinking in abstract terms.
(3) We may talk of beautiful things but beauty itself is abstract.

(1) The world breaks everyone, and afterward, many are stronger at the broken places.
(2) For what do we live, but to make sport for our neighbours, and laugh at them in our turn?
(3) You have to do everything you can. You have to work your hardest. And if you do, if you stay positive, then you have a shot at a silver lining.

(1) All aboard! (= the bus, boat, etc. is leaving soon)
(2) Welcome aboard! (= used to welcome passengers or a person joining a new organization, etc.)
(3) The plane crashed killing all 157 passengers aboard.

(1) It has touched me deeply to see how these people live.
(2) He was nice looking, but I wasn't deeply attracted to him.
(3) He was the quintessence of all that Eva most deeply loathed.

(1) a fish pond
(2) She chose a bench beside the duck pond and sat down.
(3) ...a garden pond.

(1) the sun's harmful ultra-violet rays
(2) Many household products are potentially harmful.
(3) Fruit juices can be harmful to children's teeth.

(1) rough ground
(2) The skin on her hands was hard and rough.
(3) Trim rough edges with a sharp knife.

(1) Hibernating insects begin to move.
(2) Dormice hibernate from October to May...
(3) Bears wake for spring, summer and fall and hibernate the winter.

(1) Her youngest child is at nursery now.
(2) nursery education
(3) a nursery teacher

(1) This dessert can be served straight from the fridge.
(2) There's some ice in the fridge.
(3) It'seems that there's nothing but some milk left in the fridge.

(1) It was late August and the harvest had been safely gathered in.
(2) I gather (that) you wanted to see me.
(3) I gather from your letter that you're not enjoying your job.

(1) a spelling mistake
(2) the differences between British and American spelling
(3) My spelling is terrible.

(1) She's on the management committee.
(2) The committee has/have decided to close the restaurant.
(3) a committee member/a member of the committee

(1) bright/dark/light/pale blue
(2) The room was decorated in vibrant blues and yellows.
(3) She was dressed in blue.

(1) She put a new film in her camera.
(2) to have a film developed
(3) Everything was covered in a film of dust.

(1) a cry of pain
(2) She was clearly in a lot of pain .
(3) He felt a sharp pain in his knee.

(1) The windows had been bricked up.
(2) a brick wall
(3) They put their money into bricks and mortar.

(1) Two halves of bitter, please.
(2) No goals were scored in the first half.
(3) We'll need to reduce the weight by half .

(1) the downward slope of a hill
(2) the downward trend in inflation
(3) She was trapped in a downward spiral of personal unhappiness.

(1) a victim of racial prejudice
(2) Their decision was based on ignorance and prejudice.
(3) There is little prejudice against workers from other EU states.

(1) a bank/hotel manager
(2) the sales/marketing/personnel manager
(3) a meeting of area managers

(1) He sent his work to his publishers by modem.
(2) The call is answered by a FAX machine or modem.
(3) modem Sharing: Two POTS ports for standard phone and fax machines.

(1) Young people are very environmentally aware.
(2) I was aware that she was trembling.
(3) They suddenly became aware of people looking at them.

(1) maybe he'll come, maybe he won't.
(2) ‘Are you going to sell your house? ’ ‘maybe. ’
(3) It will cost two, maybe three hundred pounds.

(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) a slice of melon
(2) Fresh and lifted aromas of white peach, rock melon and mango with a touch of lemon.
(3) We garnished the melon with strawberries.

(1) As she passed the library door, the telephone began to ring...
(2) Jane stood aside to let her pass...
(3) He passed through the doorway into Ward B...

(1) (British English,sport 体)the premier League/Division
(2) one of the country's premier chefs
(3) ...Australian premier Paul Keating.

(1) An accident can happen anywhere.
(2) I don't have anywhere to stay.
(3) Do you know anywhere I can buy a second-hand computer?

(1) (British English)He was a nuisance and we're all well rid of him (= we'll be much better without him) .
(2) She wanted to be rid of her parents and their authority.
(3) I was glad to be rid of the car when I finally sold it.

(1) The house was always messy.
(2) It was a messy job.
(3) The divorce was painful and messy.

(1) narrow streets
(2) a narrow bed/doorway/shelf
(3) narrow shoulders/hips