---
title: fiddlesticks — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «fiddlesticks» in the school dictionary: a gentle exclamation of annoyance, used instead of a swear word: «Oh, fiddlesticks!». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# fiddlesticks

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** That, I, Fiddlesticks, cake, You, Miss · **What happens:** use, exclaim, not be, play, drop, cry · **To what, where:** gentle exclamation, annoyance, bow, fiddle, glasses, brolly · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«fiddlesticks» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 8 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: [fiddlesticks in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/fiddlesticks.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: mild, old-fashioned — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
a gentle exclamation of annoyance, used instead of a swear word: «Oh, fiddlesticks!».

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fiddlesticks:m1:1
# text = a gentle exclamation of annoyance, used instead of a swear word: «Oh, fiddlesticks!».
1	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	gentle	gentle	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	exclamation	exclamation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	annoyance	annoyance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
8	instead	instead	ADV	RB	ExtPos=ADP	12	case	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	fixed	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	swear	swear	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	compound	_	_
12	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	3	punct	_	_
14	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	Oh	oh	INTJ	UH	_	17	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
17	fiddlesticks	fiddlestick	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | participle |  | a gentle exclamation of annoyance *not said here* |  |  |  | instead a swear word | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **exclaim** |  |  | annoyance |  |  |  |  | nom exclamation «communication transitive»: of=patient |

<!-- .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: old-fashioned — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
nonsense: «Fiddlesticks! That's not true.».

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* nonsense: «Fiddlesticks!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fiddlesticks:m2:1
# text = nonsense: «Fiddlesticks!
1	nonsense	nonsense	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	4	punct	_	_
3	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	Fiddlesticks	fiddlestick	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

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

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* That's not true.».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fiddlesticks:m2:2
# text = That's not true.».
1	That	that	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	4	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	true	true	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **is** | present | That |  |  |  |  | true *property* | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
the bow used to play a fiddle (violin).

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fiddlesticks:m3:1
# text = the bow used to play a fiddle (violin).
1	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	bow	bow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	play	play	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	fiddle	fiddle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	violin	violin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | participle |  | the bow *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **play** | to-infinitive |  | a fiddle |  |  |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent fiddle=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Oh, fiddlesticks, I've dropped my glasses again.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fiddlesticks:x1:1
# text = Oh, fiddlesticks, I've dropped my glasses again.
1	Oh	oh	INTJ	UH	_	7	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
3	fiddlesticks	fiddlestick	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	vocative	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	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	dropped	drop	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
8	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	glasses	glass	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	_
10	again	again	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **drop** | present · perfect | I | my glasses |  |  | again |  | vn put\_direction-9.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent glass=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Fiddlesticks!" cried Granny when the cake sank.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fiddlesticks:x2:1
# text = "Fiddlesticks!" cried Granny when the cake sank.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Fiddlesticks	fiddlestick	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
5	cried	cry	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	Granny	Granny	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
7	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	10	advmod	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	cake	cake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
10	sank	sink	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cry** *speech: express* | past | Fiddlesticks |  |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **sink** | past | the cake |  |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Fiddlesticks, it's raining and I forgot my brolly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fiddlesticks:x3:1
# text = Fiddlesticks, it's raining and I forgot my brolly.
1	Fiddlesticks	fiddlestick	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
3	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
5	raining	rain	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
7	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	forgot	forget	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	_
9	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	brolly	brolly	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **rain** | present · progressive | Fiddlesticks |  |  |  |  |  | vn weather-57 «It V PP.theme» |
| 2 | **forget** | past | I | my brolly |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"You're too old to climb trees." "Fiddlesticks!" said Grandad.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* "You're too old to climb trees." "

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fiddlesticks:x4:1
# text = "You're too old to climb trees." "
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	You	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	're	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	too	too	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	climb	climb	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	advcl	_	_
8	trees	tree	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
11	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** *in a quote* | present | You |  |  |  |  | old *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **climb** *in a quote* | to-infinitive | You *not said here* | trees |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Initial\_Location tree=Theme |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* Fiddlesticks!" said Grandad.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fiddlesticks:x4:2
# text = Fiddlesticks!" said Grandad.
1	Fiddlesticks	fiddlestick	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	1	punct	_	_
4	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	Grandad	Grandad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* *in a quote* | past | Fiddlesticks |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The cartoon mouse squeaked, "Fiddlesticks!"

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fiddlesticks:x5:1
# text = The cartoon mouse squeaked, "Fiddlesticks!"
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	cartoon	cartoon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	mouse	mouse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	squeaked	squeak	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
6	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	Fiddlesticks	fiddlestick	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **squeak** | participle |  | the cartoon mouse and Fiddlesticks *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn animal\_sounds-38 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Miss Brown says "fiddlesticks" instead of swearing.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fiddlesticks:x6:1
# text = Miss Brown says "fiddlesticks" instead of swearing.
1	Miss	Miss	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	Brown	Brown	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	flat	_	_
3	says	say	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	fiddlesticks	fiddlestick	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
7	instead	instead	ADV	RB	ExtPos=SCONJ	9	mark	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	fixed	_	_
9	swearing	swear	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | Miss | fiddlesticks |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **swear** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn conjecture-29.5 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Fiddlesticks! I've missed the bus.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* Fiddlesticks!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fiddlesticks:x7:1
# text = Fiddlesticks!
1	Fiddlesticks	fiddlestick	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

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

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* I've missed the bus.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fiddlesticks:x7:2
# text = I've missed the bus.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	've	have	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	missed	miss	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	bus	bus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	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 |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Fiddlesticks" sounds so silly that everyone laughed.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fiddlesticks:x8:1
# text = "Fiddlesticks" sounds so silly that everyone laughed.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Fiddlesticks	fiddlestick	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
4	sounds	sound	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	so	so	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	silly	silly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	xcomp	_	_
7	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
8	everyone	everyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Tot	9	nsubj	_	_
9	laughed	laugh	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sound** | present | Fiddlesticks |  |  |  |  | silly *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |
| 2 | **laugh** | past | everyone |  |  |  |  |  | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- 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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