(1) They appeared surprisingly pessimistic about their chances of winning.
(2) a pessimistic view of life
(3) I think you're being far too pessimistic.

(1) my childhood hero
(2) The hero of the novel is a ten-year old boy.
(3) one of the country's national heroes

(1) to hit a home run
(2) We've hit our ball over the fence!
(3) He was hit by a sniper.

(1) The incident sparked off a whole series of events that nobody had foreseen.
(2) the latest in a series of articles on the nature of modern society
(3) the World series (= in baseball )

(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) the psychological development of children
(2) Abuse can lead to both psychological and emotional problems.
(3) Her symptoms are more psychological than physical (= imaginary rather than real) .

(1) Disinfectant kills germs.
(2) Dirty hands can be a breeding ground for germs.
(3) Here was the germ of a brilliant idea.

(1) We were invited to give our opinions about how the work should be done.
(2) I've recently changed my opinion of her.
(3) Everyone had an opinion on the subject.

(1) It is our belief to further expand markets and dissatisfy with existing achievements.
(2) Envy may dissatisfy us with our lot.

(1) The baby was banging the table with his spoon.
(2) She banged on the door angrily.
(3) Don't bang the door when you go out!

(1) Travel is by coach overnight to Berlin.
(2) a coach station (= where coaches start and end their journey)
(3) a coach party (= a group of people travelling together on a coach)

(1) My father has made a full recovery from the operation.
(2) to make a remarkable/quick/speedy/slow, etc. recovery
(3) She is on the road to (= making progress towards) recovery .

(1) I can't go into details now; it would take too long.
(2) The brochure details all the hotels in the area and their facilities.
(3) Several of the men were detailed to form a search party.

(1) a piece/length of string
(2) He wrapped the package in brown paper and tied it with string.
(3) The key is hanging on a string by the door.

(1) The birth of her son was a minor interruption to her career.
(2) an interruption to the power supply
(3) I managed to work for two hours without interruption .

(1) She helpfully suggested that I try the local library.
(2) The staff couldn't have been more helpful.
(3) I called the police but they weren't very helpful.

(1) I'm sorry, I've forgotten your name. Can you remind me?
(2) That (= what you have just said, done, etc.) reminds me , I must get some cash.
(3) ‘You need to finish that essay. ’ ‘ Don't remind me (= I don't want to think about it) . ’

(1) ...a glorious career spanning more than six decades.
(2) The loss of my wife hit me for six; it took me months to recover...
(3) Many areas in the North were knocked for six by that first recession.

(1) The knife had penetrated his chest.
(2) The sun's radiation penetrates the skin.
(3) (figurative)The war penetrates every area of the nation's life.

(1) The film is only funny if you appreciate French humour (= things that cause French people to laugh) .
(2) to be in the best of humours
(3) The meeting dissolved in ill humour .

(1) Today we discuss the green house effect.
(2) All of those activities release greenhouse gases.
(3) Natural ventilation of greenhouse apply the majority of places in our world.

(1) His speech was a powerful spur to action.
(2) I phoned him up on the spur of the moment.
(3) a spur-of-the-moment decision

(1) No one believed he would actually kill himself...
(2) would he always be like this?…
(3) The statement added that although there were a number of differing views, these would be discussed by both sides...

(1) Regular inspections are carried out at the prison.
(2) The head went on a tour of inspection of all the classrooms.
(3) The documents are available for inspection .

(1) ...80 million gallons of water a day.
(2) ...a gasoline tax of 4.3 cents a gallon.
(3) One fifth of a gallon or four fifths of a quart of liquor.

(1) The fact that I was a foreigner was a big disadvantage.
(2) I have always been regarded as a foreigner by the local folk.
(3) They are discouraged from becoming close friends with foreigners.

(1) (North Amercian English,British English)the reception desk
(2) the reception area
(3) We arranged to meet in reception at 6.30.

(1) We've had a lot of support from all our friends and neighbours .
(2) Our next-door neighbours are very noisy.
(3) Britain's nearest neighbour is France.

(1) a bomb/nuclear/gas explosion
(2) There were two loud explosions and then the building burst into flames.
(3) Bomb Squad officers carried out a controlled explosion of the device.

(1) The photochemical reactions transform the light into electrical impulses.
(2) A new colour scheme will transform your bedroom.
(3) It was an event that would transform my life.

(1) The consequences will be very grave if nothing is done.
(2) The police have expressed grave concern about the missing child's safety.
(3) My father would turn in his grave if he knew.

(1) murder/rape, etc. victims
(2) accident/earthquake/famine, etc. victims
(3) AIDS/cancer/stroke, etc. victims

(1) The race ended with eight laps of a city centre circuit.
(2) The earth takes a year to make a circuit of (= go around) the sun.
(3) an electrical circuit

(1) Take your time─there's no hurry.
(2) In my hurry to leave, I forgot my passport.
(3) What's the hurry ? The train doesn't leave for an hour.

(1) I broke my leg playing football.
(2) How many legs does a centipede have?
(3) front/back legs

(1) He asked me to marry him and I accepted.
(2) Please accept our sincere apologies.
(3) He is charged with accepting bribes from a firm of suppliers.

(1) The water supply is unsafe.
(2) Supplies of food are almost exhausted.
(3) We cannot guarantee adequate supplies of raw materials.

(1) She had no tolerance for jokes of any kind.
(2) religious tolerance
(3) a reputation for tolerance towards refugees

(1) We're not sure whether we still want to proceed with the sale.
(2) Work is proceeding slowly.
(3) He outlined his plans and then proceeded to explain them in more detail.

(1) an annual income/subscription/budget
(2) an average annual growth rate of 8%
(3) annual rainfall