---
title: dodgy — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «dodgy» in the school dictionary: Dishonest or likely to be illegal; not to be trusted: «a dodgy deal». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# dodgy

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** weather, website, Grandad, wifi, Australia, I · **What happens:** be, not trust, not work, break, look, not type in · **To what, where:** dodgy knee, UK, password, Australia, dodgy kebab, dodgy plan

<!-- .vabout -->
«dodgy» in the school dictionary: its 4 meanings for a pupil and its 7 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: [dodgy in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/dodgy.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dishonest or likely to be illegal; not to be trusted: «a dodgy deal».

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dodgy:m1:1
# text = Dishonest or likely to be illegal; not to be trusted: «a dodgy deal».
1	Dishonest	dishonest	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	advcl	_	_
2	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	likely	likely	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	conj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
5	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	cop	_	_
6	illegal	illegal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
8	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	11	advmod	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
10	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	aux:pass	_	_
11	trusted	trust	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	11	punct	_	_
13	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
15	dodgy	dodgy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	deal	deal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | illegal *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **trust** | to-infinitive · passive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn conjecture-29.5-1 «NP V that S»: clause=Theme |

<!-- .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 -->
Not working well, unsafe or likely to break: «a dodgy knee», «dodgy brakes».

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dodgy:m2:1
# text = Not working well, unsafe or likely to break: «a dodgy knee», «dodgy brakes».
1	Not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	2	advmod	_	_
2	working	work	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
3	well	well	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	2	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
5	unsafe	unsafe	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	parataxis	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	likely	likely	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	conj	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	break	break	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	2	punct	_	_
11	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
13	dodgy	dodgy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	knee	knee	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
17	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	19	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	dodgy	dodgy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	amod	_	_
19	brakes	brake	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	19	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **work** | gerund |  | a dodgy knee |  |  |  | dodgy brakes *obl*; well *property* | vn employment-95.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **break** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Patient |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Of poor quality or a bit bad: «a dodgy haircut», «a dodgy curry».

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dodgy:m3:1
# text = Of poor quality or a bit bad: «a dodgy haircut», «a dodgy curry».
1	Of	of	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	poor	poor	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	quality	quality	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	bit	bit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
7	bad	bad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	12	punct	_	_
9	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	dodgy	dodgy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	haircut	haircut	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
15	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
17	dodgy	dodgy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
18	curry	curry	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

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

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Risky or uncertain: «The weather looks dodgy.».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dodgy:m4:1
# text = Risky or uncertain: «The weather looks dodgy.».
1	Risky	risky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
2	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	uncertain	uncertain	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
5	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	weather	weather	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	looks	look	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	parataxis	_	_
9	dodgy	dodgy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** *in a quote* | present | the weather |  |  |  |  | dodgy *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
(UK) That website looks dodgy — don't type your password in.

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dodgy:x1:1
# text = (UK) That website looks dodgy — don't type your password in.
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	UK	UK	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	2	punct	_	_
4	That	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	5	det	_	_
5	website	website	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	looks	look	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	dodgy	dodgy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	xcomp	_	_
8	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	11	punct	_	_
9	do	do	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	11	advmod	_	_
11	type	type	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	conj	_	_
12	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	13	nmod:poss	_	_
13	password	password	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	_
14	in	in	ADP	RP	_	11	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** | present | that website | UK |  |  |  | dodgy *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |
| 2 | **not** **type in** | infinitive · do-support | that website *not said here* | your password |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent password=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grandad has a dodgy knee, so he walks slowly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dodgy:x2:1
# text = Grandad has a dodgy knee, so he walks slowly.
1	Grandad	Grandad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	dodgy	dodgy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	knee	knee	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
7	so	so	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
8	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	walks	walk	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
10	slowly	slowly	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | Grandad | a dodgy knee |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent knee=Patient |
| 2 | **walk** | present | Grandad |  |  |  |  | slowly *property* | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The wifi is a bit dodgy today.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dodgy:x3:1
# text = The wifi is a bit dodgy today.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	wifi	wifi	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	bit	bit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl:unmarked	_	_
6	dodgy	dodgy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
7	today	today	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the wifi |  |  |  | today | a bit *obl:unmarked*; dodgy *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
(Australia) He sold us a dodgy bike with no brakes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dodgy:x4:1
# text = (Australia) He sold us a dodgy bike with no brakes.
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Australia	Australia	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	2	punct	_	_
4	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
5	sold	sell	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	5	obj	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	dodgy	dodgy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	bike	bike	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
10	with	with	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	12	det	_	_
12	brakes	brake	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sell** | past | Australia | Australia |  |  |  | with no brakes | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent we=Recipient bike=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I had a dodgy kebab and felt sick all night.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dodgy:x5:1
# text = I had a dodgy kebab and felt sick all night.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	dodgy	dodgy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	kebab	kebab	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	felt	feel	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
8	sick	sick	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	xcomp	_	_
9	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	10	det	_	_
10	night	night	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | I | a dodgy kebab |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent kebab=Patient |
| 2 | **feel** | past | I *not said here* |  |  |  | night | sick *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
That's a dodgy plan; we'll get caught.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dodgy:x6:1
# text = That's a dodgy plan; we'll get caught.
1	That	that	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	dodgy	dodgy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	plan	plan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	5	punct	_	_
7	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj:pass	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	'll	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
9	get	get	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	aux:pass	_	_
10	caught	catch	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | That | a dodgy plan |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **catch** | future · passive |  | we |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The weather looks dodgy, bring a coat.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dodgy:x7:1
# text = The weather looks dodgy, bring a coat.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	weather	weather	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	looks	look	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	dodgy	dodgy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	bring	bring	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	conj	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	coat	coat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** | present | the weather |  |  |  |  | dodgy *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |
| 2 | **bring** | infinitive | the weather *not said here* | a coat |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3-1 «NP V NP together»: agent=Agent coat=Theme |

<!-- 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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