(1) The dial records very slight variations in pressure.
(2) Currency exchange rates are always subject to variation.
(3) regional/seasonal variation (= depending on the region or time of year)

(1) I looked down the hallway to room number nine...
(2) She turned to look at him...
(3) You've just got to look at the last bit of Act Three.

(1) the present government's policy on education
(2) The company has adopted a firm policy on shoplifting.
(3) We have tried to pursue a policy of neutrality.

(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) We must have been burgled while we were asleep.
(2) Her parents died while she was still at school.
(3) while I was waiting at the bus stop, three buses went by in the opposite direction.

(1) Have you seen the Picasso exhibition?
(2) an exhibition of old photographs
(3) She refused to allow the exhibition of her husband's work.

(1) She gave the ball a terrific belt.
(2) That was distinctly below the belt!
(3) a belt-and-braces policy

(1) She is hoping her US debut will be the first step on the road to fame and fortune .
(2) That ring must be worth a fortune .
(3) the changing fortunes of the film industry

(1) It is a purely academic question.
(2) The whole thing's academic now─we can't win anyway.
(3) You have to do well academically to get into medical school.

(1) The tomatoes give extra flavour to the sauce.
(2) It is stronger in flavour than other Dutch cheeses.
(3) This yogurt comes in ten different flavours.

(1) The equation of wealth with happiness can be dangerous.
(2) When children enter the equation , further tensions may arise within a marriage.
(3) The equation is simple: research breeds new products...

(1) Life was harder then because neither of us had a job.
(2) Things were very different back then .
(3) She grew up in Zimbabwe, or Rhodesia as it then was.

(1) Music is quite unlike any other art form.
(2) The sound was not unlike that of birds singing.
(3) unlike most systems, this one is very easy to install.

(1) to feel/have/show/express (an) interest in sth
(2) Do your parents take an interest in your friends?
(3) By that time I had lost (all) interest in the idea.

(1) Try to support each other when one of you is feeling down...
(2) I have been down since the injury happened...
(3) That's down to pure hard work.

(1) He thrust the baby into my arms and ran off.
(2) She thrust her hands deep into her pockets.
(3) She thrust past him angrily and left.

(1) There are two versions of the game, a long one and a short one.
(2) the latest version of the software package
(3) the de luxe/luxury version

(1) manufactured goods
(2) a news story manufactured by an unscrupulous journalist
(3) Vitamins cannot be manufactured by our bodies.

(1) a town on the south coast of England
(2) islands off the west coast of Ireland
(3) a trip to the coast

(1) Stop talking and listen!
(2) He was too distressed to talk...
(3) A teacher reprimanded a girl for talking in class...

(1) She stooped down to pick up the child.
(2) The doorway was so low that he had to stoop.
(3) He tends to stoop because he's so tall.

(1) The letter instructed him to report to headquarters immediately.
(2) You will be instructed where to go as soon as the plane is ready.
(3) She arrived at 10 o'clock as instructed .

(1) Police are trying to establish the cause of death .
(2) Do you believe in life after death ?
(3) a death camp (= a place where prisoners are killed, usually in a war)

(1) He assumed an air of concern.
(2) In the story the god assumes the form of an eagle.
(3) This matter has assumed considerable importance.

(1) a document wallet
(2) He had left his wallet on the table, so I went after him.
(3) Hey, you dropped your wallet.

(1) (formal)Your presence is requested at the meeting.
(2) He hardly seemed to notice my presence.
(3) Her presence during the crisis had a calming effect.

(1) A snowstorm is barreling in and should reach southern areas by Monday.
(2) After several weeks of travel, snowstorm hit us first.
(3) The snowstorm ruled out their weekly meeting.

(1) a nursery for infants under two
(2) their infant son
(3) She was seriously ill as an infant.

(1) The hospital has a commitment to provide the best possible medical care.
(2) We are here to provide a service for the public.
(3) We are here to provide the public with a service.

(1) a medical examination
(2) a post-mortem examination
(3) On closer examination it was found that the signature was not genuine.

(1) My sight is failing, and I can't see to read any more...
(2) I use the sense of sound much more than the sense of sight.
(3) I faint at the sight of blood...

(1) the temple of Diana at Ephesus
(2) a Buddhist/Hindu/Sikh temple
(3) (North Amercian English)to go to temple (= to a service in a synagogue , where Jews worship)

(1) She plays the flute in the school orchestra.
(2) the Scottish Symphony orchestra
(3) ...the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic orchestra.

(1) Can you skate?
(2) It was so cold that we were able to go skating on the lake.
(3) He skated an exciting programme at the American Championships.

(1) What's the matter, darling?
(2) You are a darling, Hugo.
(3) She is the darling of the newspapers and can do no wrong.

(1) We were in the same class at school.
(2) She is the youngest in her class.
(3) He came top of the class .

(1) a string of pearls
(2) a pearl necklace
(3) She was wearing her pearls (= a necklace of pearls ) .

(1) The new drug has not yet been licensed in the US.
(2) (British English)licensing hours (= the times when alcohol can be sold at a pub, etc.)
(3) They had licensed the firm to produce the drug.

(1) a fall in academic standards
(2) We aim to maintain high standards of customer care.
(3) The standard of this year's applications is very low.

(1) a domestic servant
(2) They treat their mother like a servant.
(3) a public servant