---
title: bollocks — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «bollocks» in the school dictionary: Nonsense or rubbish: said when you think something is untrue or stupid. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# bollocks

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Nonsense, you, something, That, bollocks, he · **What happens:** say, think, be, use, hear, miss · **To what, where:** bollocks, rumour, bus, whole plan, it, films · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«bollocks» in the school dictionary: its 4 meanings for a pupil and its 6 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [bollocks in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/bollocks.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: rude, UK — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Nonsense or rubbish: said when you think something is untrue or stupid.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bollocks:m1:1
# text = Nonsense or rubbish: said when you think something is untrue or stupid.
1	Nonsense	nonsense	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	rubbish	rubbish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	5	punct	_	_
5	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	8	advmod	_	_
7	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	think	think	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	ccomp	_	_
9	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	11	nsubj	_	_
10	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
11	untrue	untrue	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	ccomp	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	stupid	stupid	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | Nonsense or rubbish |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **think** *speech: other* | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn focus-87.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **is** | present | something |  |  |  |  | untrue *property* | tree rules |
| 4 | **be** |  | something *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: rude — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Used as a swear word when you are annoyed, like "damn".

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bollocks:m2:1
# text = Used as a swear word when you are annoyed, like "damn".
1	Used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
2	as	as	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	swear	swear	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
6	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	9	mark	_	_
7	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
8	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
9	annoyed	annoyed	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
11	like	like	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	damn	damn	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | participle |  |  |  |  |  | as a swear word | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | present | you |  |  |  |  | annoyed *property* | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: very rude, slang — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The testicles.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bollocks:m3:1
# text = The testicles.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	testicles	testicle	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: rude, UK, in "the dog's bollocks" — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Something excellent.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bollocks:m4:1
# text = Something excellent.
1	Something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	0	root	_	_
2	excellent	excellent	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"That's bollocks!" he said when he heard the rumour. (rude)

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* "That's bollocks!" he said when he heard the rumour.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bollocks:x1:1
# text = "That's bollocks!" he said when he heard the rumour.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	That	that	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	4	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	bollocks	bollock	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
7	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	11	advmod	_	_
10	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
11	heard	hear	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	ccomp	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	rumour	rumour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** *in a quote* | present | That | bollocks |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **say** *speech: express* | past | bollocks |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **hear** | past | he | the rumour |  |  |  |  | vn see-30.1-1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Experiencer rumour=Stimulus |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* (rude)

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bollocks:x1:2
# text = (rude)
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	rude	rude	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Oh, bollocks — I've missed the bus. (rude)

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* Oh, bollocks — I've missed the bus.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bollocks:x2:1
# text = Oh, bollocks — I've missed the bus.
1	Oh	oh	INTJ	UH	_	3	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
3	bollocks	bollock	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
4	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	7	punct	_	_
5	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	've	have	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
7	missed	miss	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	3	acl:relcl	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	bus	bus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **miss** | present · perfect | I | the bus |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer bus=Stimulus |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* (rude)

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bollocks:x2:2
# text = (rude)
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	rude	rude	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He bollocksed up the whole plan. (rude)

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* He bollocksed up the whole plan.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bollocks:x3:1
# text = He bollocksed up the whole plan.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	bollocksed	bollocks	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	up	up	ADP	RP	_	2	compound:prt	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	whole	whole	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	plan	plan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **bollocks up** | past | He | the whole plan |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* (rude)

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bollocks:x3:2
# text = (rude)
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	rude	rude	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Bollocks to that, I'm not doing it. (rude)

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* Bollocks to that, I'm not doing it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bollocks:x4:1
# text = Bollocks to that, I'm not doing it.
1	Bollocks	bollock	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj	_	_
2	to	to	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	that	that	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	1	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
5	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	'm	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
7	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	8	advmod	_	_
8	doing	do	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
9	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **do** | present · progressive | Bollocks to that | it |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Eventuality |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* (rude)

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bollocks:x4:2
# text = (rude)
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	rude	rude	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Teachers would call it "nonsense", not "bollocks".

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bollocks:x5:1
# text = Teachers would call it "nonsense", not "bollocks".
1	Teachers	teacher	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	call	call	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	_
5	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	nonsense	nonsense	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
9	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	11	advmod	_	_
10	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	bollocks	bollock	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** *speech: assert* | would | Teachers | it |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
You'll hear it in films, but don't say it in class.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bollocks:x6:1
# text = You'll hear it in films, but don't say it in class.
1	You	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	'll	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	hear	hear	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	films	film	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
8	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
9	do	do	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	11	advmod	_	_
11	say	say	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	conj	_	_
12	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	obj	_	_
13	in	in	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hear** | future | You | it |  | films |  |  | vn see-30.1-1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Experiencer it=Stimulus |
| 2 | **not** **say** *speech: assert* | infinitive · do-support | You *not said here* | it |  | class |  |  | vn pronounce-29.3.1 «NP V NP PP.manner»: agent=Agent it=Theme in class=Manner |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

<!-- pn -->
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