---
title: diddle — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «diddle» in the school dictionary: To cheat someone, especially out of money, in a sneaky way. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# diddle

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** rhyme, shop, you, I, con man, He · **What happens:** cheat, waste, fiddle about, diddle, be, stop · **To what, where:** someone, money, nonsense sound, nursery rhyme, us, ten pounds · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«diddle» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: [diddle in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/diddle.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To cheat someone, especially out of money, in a sneaky way.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:diddle:m1:1
# text = To cheat someone, especially out of money, in a sneaky way.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	cheat	cheat	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
5	especially	especially	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
6	out	out	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	sneaky	sneaky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cheat** | to-infinitive |  | someone |  | money |  | in a sneaky way | vn cheat-10.6.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent someone=Source |

<!-- .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: informal — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To waste time or fiddle about with something.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:diddle:m2:1
# text = To waste time or fiddle about with something.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	waste	waste	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	fiddle	fiddle	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
6	about	about	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **waste** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  | time |  | vn destroy-44 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **fiddle about** | present |  |  |  |  |  | with something; about *property* | vn trifle-105.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent with something=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the nursery rhyme «Hey diddle diddle», it is a nonsense sound.

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:diddle:m3:1
# text = In the nursery rhyme «Hey diddle diddle», it is a nonsense sound.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	nursery	nursery	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	rhyme	rhyme	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obl	_	_
5	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	Hey	hey	INTJ	UH	_	7	discourse	_	_
7	diddle	diddle	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	4	appos	_	_
8	diddle	diddle	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
11	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	15	nsubj	_	_
12	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	15	cop	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
14	nonsense	nonsense	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	sound	sound	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	15	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **diddle** *in a quote* | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **diddle** *in a quote* | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn trifle-105.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **is a** | present | rhyme | a nonsense sound |  | the nursery rhyme |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The shop diddled us out of ten pounds.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:diddle:x1:1
# text = The shop diddled us out of ten pounds.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	shop	shop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	diddled	diddle	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	_
5	out	out	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	ten	ten	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	8	nummod	_	_
8	pounds	pound	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **diddle** | past | the shop | us |  | ten pounds |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Hey diddle diddle, the cat and the fiddle.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:diddle:x2:1
# text = Hey diddle diddle, the cat and the fiddle.
1	Hey	hey	INTJ	UH	_	2	discourse	_	_
2	diddle	diddle	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	diddle	diddle	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	fiddle	fiddle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **diddle** | imperative | you *not said here* | the cat and the fiddle |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **diddle** | infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn trifle-105.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Stop diddling about and get ready!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:diddle:x3:1
# text = Stop diddling about and get ready!
1	Stop	stop	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	diddling	diddle	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	1	xcomp	_	_
3	about	about	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	get	get	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	1	conj	_	_
6	ready	ready	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stop** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Affector clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **diddle** | gerund | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | about *property* | vn trifle-105.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **get** | infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | ready *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I think I've been diddled; this toy is broken.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:diddle:x4:1
# text = I think I've been diddled; this toy is broken.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	think	think	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	've	have	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
5	been	be	AUX	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	6	aux:pass	_	_
6	diddled	diddle	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	11	punct	_	_
8	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	9	det	_	_
9	toy	toy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj:pass	_	_
10	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	aux:pass	_	_
11	broken	break	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **think** *speech: other* | present | I |  |  |  |  |  | vn consider-29.9-2 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 2 | **diddle** | present · perfect · passive |  | I |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **break** | present · passive |  | this toy |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The con man diddled lots of old people.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:diddle:x5:1
# text = The con man diddled lots of old people.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	con	con	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	man	man	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	diddled	diddle	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	lots	lot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **diddle** | past | the con man | lots of old people |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He diddled with the radio knobs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:diddle:x6:1
# text = He diddled with the radio knobs.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	diddled	diddle	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	radio	radio	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	knobs	knob	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **diddle** | past | He |  |  |  |  | with the radio knobs | vn trifle-105.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent with knob=Theme |

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**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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