---
title: codswallop — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «codswallop» in the school dictionary: Nonsense; something that is silly and untrue: «That's a load of codswallop!». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# codswallop

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** That, dog, Grandad, promises, advert, story · **What happens:** be, eat, say, promise, shout, not believe · **To what, where:** load, homework, utter codswallop, complete codswallop, old man, telly · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«codswallop» in the school dictionary: its meaning 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: [codswallop in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/codswallop.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: informal, UK, Australia, NZ — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Nonsense; something that is silly and untrue: «That's a load of codswallop!».

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:codswallop:m1:1
# text = Nonsense; something that is silly and untrue: «That's a load of codswallop!».
1	Nonsense	nonsense	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	3	punct	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	0	root	_	_
4	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	6	nsubj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
6	silly	silly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	acl:relcl	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	untrue	untrue	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	14	punct	_	_
10	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	That	that	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	14	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	cop	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	load	load	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	appos	_	_
15	of	of	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	codswallop	codswallop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | silly *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **is a** *in a quote* | present | That | a load |  |  |  | of codswallop | 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.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«The dog ate my homework? What a load of codswallop!»

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* «The dog ate my homework?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:codswallop:x1:1
# text = «The dog ate my homework?
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	ate	eat	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	homework	homework	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **eat** *in a quote* | past | the dog | my homework |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent homework=Patient |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* What a load of codswallop!»

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:codswallop:x1:2
# text = What a load of codswallop!»
1	What	what	DET	WDT	PronType=Int	3	det	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	load	load	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	codswallop	codswallop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grandad said the advert's promises were utter codswallop.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:codswallop:x2:1
# text = Grandad said the advert's promises were utter codswallop.
1	Grandad	Grandad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	advert	advert	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	's	's	PART	POS	_	4	case	_	_
6	promises	promise	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nsubj	_	_
7	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	utter	utter	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	codswallop	codswallop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | Grandad |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is a** | past | the advert's promises | utter codswallop |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **promise** |  | the advert |  |  |  |  |  | nom promise «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
That story about a monster in the school basement is complete codswallop.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:codswallop:x3:1
# text = That story about a monster in the school basement is complete codswallop.
1	That	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	2	det	_	_
2	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
3	about	about	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	monster	monster	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	basement	basement	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
10	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
11	complete	complete	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	codswallop	codswallop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | that story about a monster in the school basement | complete codswallop |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Codswallop!» shouted the old man at the telly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:codswallop:x4:1
# text = «Codswallop!» shouted the old man at the telly.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Codswallop	codswallop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
5	shouted	shout	VERB	VBD	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	man	man	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
9	at	at	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	telly	telly	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **shout** *speech: express* | past | Codswallop | the old man |  | the telly |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent man=Topic |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't believe that codswallop about chocolate making you fly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:codswallop:x5:1
# text = Don't believe that codswallop about chocolate making you fly.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	believe	believe	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	that	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	5	det	_	_
5	codswallop	codswallop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	about	about	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	chocolate	chocolate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
8	making	make	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	ccomp	_	_
9	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	8	obj	_	_
10	fly	fly	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **believe** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* | that codswallop |  |  |  | about chocolate | tree rules |
| 2 | **make** | gerund |  | you |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **fly** | infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The scientist showed that the claim was codswallop by doing a fair test.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:codswallop:x6:1
# text = The scientist showed that the claim was codswallop by doing a fair test.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	scientist	scientist	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	showed	show	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	claim	claim	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
7	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
8	codswallop	codswallop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	ccomp	_	_
9	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
10	doing	do	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	advcl	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	fair	fair	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	test	test	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | past | the scientist |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is a** | past | the claim | codswallop |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **do** | gerund | the scientist *not said here* | a fair test |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent test=Eventuality |

<!-- 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 -->

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