(1) Most domestic freezers operate at below –18˚C.
(2) Solar panels can only operate in sunlight.
(3) (figurative)Some people can only operate well under pressure.

(1) Sylvia does not get on with the supervisor and the danger is that he will trump up some charge to discredit her.
(2) The translation does not quite correspond to the original.
(3) It doesn't give you much leeway, does it?

(1) drilling for oil
(2) engine oil
(3) an oil lamp/heater

(1) He was well acquainted with the literature of France, germany and Holland.
(2) The agent spied for East germany for more than twenty years.
(3) His new relationship with germany is enshrined in a new non-aggression treaty.

(1) He believed his immortal soul was in peril.
(2) The howling wind sounded like the wailing of lost souls (= the spirits of dead people who are not in heaven) .
(3) There was a feeling of restlessness deep in her soul.

(1) [不可数名词] firefighting equipment/vehicles
(2) The firefighter put his life in danger to extinguish the forest fire.
(3) I want to be a firefighter.

(1) Rumours of various natures went still from mouth to mouth.
(2) The news spread rapidly from mouth to mouth.
(3) Yet four lives of ordinary duration would suffice to transmit, from mouth to mouth.

(1) Which way is east?
(2) A gale was blowing from the east.
(3) a town to the east of (= further east than) Chicago

(1) You should allow a little time after a meal for the food to digest.
(2) He paused, waiting for her to digest the information.
(3) a monthly news digest

(1) I don'twant to bring shame on the family name.
(2) His actions have soiled his family name.
(3) " Isn't his family name Bai? How can he be your brother? "

(1) Our thanks are due to the whole team.
(2) Have they been paid the money that is due to them?
(3) The project had to be abandoned due to a lack of government funding.

(1) Headaches may be a sign of stress.
(2) There is no sign of John anywhere.
(3) Call the police at the first sign of trouble.

(1) Today is the fifth (of May).
(2) the fifth century BC
(3) It's her fifth birthday.

(1) Their footsteps echoed in the silence.
(2) A scream broke the silence of the night.
(3) I need absolute silence when I'm working.

(1) a lotion to make your skin feel soft and smooth
(2) The water was as smooth as glass.
(3) a paint that gives a smooth, silky finish

(1) We slid down the grassy slope.
(2) The drawers slide in and out easily.
(3) She slid her hand along the rail.

(1) He was employed by them for eighteen years.
(2) The money has to be divided among the eighteen Incorruptibles.
(3) My daughter is eighteen years old and has grown into a beautiful lady.

(1) hot and cold water pipes
(2) lead/plastic pipes
(3) a leaking gas pipe

(1) Carefully pull out the centre pages...
(2) He took out his notebook and flipped the pages...
(3) It's hot out — very hot, very humid.

(1) She has little patience with (= will not accept or consider) such views.
(2) People have lost patience with (= have become annoyed about) the slow pace of reform.
(3) My patience is wearing thin.

(1) (a) fear of the dark/spiders/flying, etc.
(2) Her eyes showed no fear.
(3) The child was shaking with fear .

(1) to launch a research programme
(2) a training programme for new staff
(3) a programme of economic reform

(1) ...the sunniest April in Britain for more than sixty years.
(2) ...a lively widow in her sixties.
(3) In the sixties there were the deaths of the two Kennedy brothers and Martin Luther King.

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

(1) non-violent resistance
(2) a non-violent protest
(3) non-violent crimes

(1) Do you have any plans for the summer?
(2) There are no plans to build new offices.
(3) Your best plan (= the best thing to do) would be to go by car.

(1) The application forms have now been simplified.
(2) I hope his appointment will simplify matters .
(3) a simplified version of the story for young children

(1) I met Wilma once, briefly...
(2) Since that evening I haven't once slept through the night...
(3) Lung cells die and are replaced about once a week...

(1) All the signs and announcements were rendered in English and spanish.
(2) The spanish media were still sniping at the British press yesterday.
(3) Clare and David Astor are sketching a view of far spanish hills.

(1) the power of the human spirit to overcome difficulties
(2) to be in high/low spirits
(3) You must try and keep your spirits up (= stay cheerful) .

(1) a very fine performance
(2) fine clothes/wines/workmanship
(3) a particularly fine example of Saxon architecture

(1) the depths of the ocean
(2) People were swimming in the ocean despite the hurricane warning.
(3) The plane hit the ocean several miles offshore.

(1) Can you catalogue the vcd sets you sell and send me a copy?
(2) vcd production this year increased by 50 % compared to the last year.
(3) This action is caused in vcd and television industry blast a disturbance.

(1) The school will only allow this in special circumstances.
(2) Some of the officials have special privileges.
(3) There is something special about this place.

(1) She took a mouthful of food and then suddenly spat it out.
(2) He was spitting blood from a badly cut lip.
(3) He coughed and spat.

(1) Her decision to cancel the concert is bound to disappoint her fans.
(2) He's building me up too much — I may disappoint him.
(3) I'm sorry to disappoint your hope.

(1) solar radiation
(2) the solar cycle
(3) solar power/heating

(1) a pile of books/clothes/bricks
(2) He arranged the documents in neat piles.
(3) She looked in horror at the mounting pile of letters on her desk.

(1) to fetch help/a doctor
(2) The inhabitants have to walk a mile to fetch water.
(3) She's gone to fetch the kids from school.

(1) Don't forget to bring your books with you.
(2) She brought her boyfriend to the party.
(3) bring a present for Helen.