---
title: fishy — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «fishy» in the school dictionary: Fishy means smelling or tasting of fish. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# fishy

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Fishy, something, someone, kitchen, email, excuse · **What happens:** mean, smell, taste, be, not tell, have · **To what, where:** fish, truth, strong fishy smell, bit, fishy biscuits · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Fishy means smelling or tasting of fish.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fishy:m1:1
# text = Fishy means smelling or tasting of fish.
1	Fishy	fishy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	smelling	smell	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	xcomp	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	tasting	tasting	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	fish	fish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Fishy |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **smell** *not said to happen* | gerund | Fishy *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn smell\_emission-43.3 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **taste** |  |  | fish |  |  |  |  | nom tasting «cognition 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: informal — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Fishy means suspicious, as if something is wrong or someone is not telling the truth.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fishy:m2:1
# text = Fishy means suspicious, as if something is wrong or someone is not telling the truth.
1	Fishy	fishy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	suspicious	suspicious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
5	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
6	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
7	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	9	nsubj	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
9	wrong	wrong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	parataxis	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
11	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	14	nsubj	_	_
12	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	aux	_	_
13	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	14	advmod	_	_
14	telling	tell	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	9	conj	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	truth	truth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Fishy |  |  |  |  | suspicious *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** *a condition, not said to happen* | present | something |  |  |  |  | wrong *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **not** **tell** *speech: assert* | present · progressive | someone | the truth |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent truth=Recipient |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Fishy can also mean like a fish or full of fish.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fishy:m3:1
# text = Fishy can also mean like a fish or full of fish.
1	Fishy	fishy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	also	also	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	like	like	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	fish	fish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	full	full	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	conj	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	fish	fish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | can | Fishy |  |  |  |  | like a fish | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The kitchen had a strong fishy smell after tea.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fishy:x1:1
# text = The kitchen had a strong fishy smell after tea.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	kitchen	kitchen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	strong	strong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	fishy	fishy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	smell	smell	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
8	after	after	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	tea	tea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | the kitchen | a strong fishy smell |  |  | after tea |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent smell=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There's something fishy about that email asking for Mum's password.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fishy:x2:1
# text = There's something fishy about that email asking for Mum's password.
1	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	2	expl	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	be	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	nsubj	_	_
4	fishy	fishy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
5	about	about	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	that	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	7	det	_	_
7	email	email	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
8	asking	ask	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	acl	_	_
9	for	for	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
10	Mum	Mum	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	12	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	's	's	PART	POS	_	10	case	_	_
12	password	password	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | present | something |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **ask** *speech: ask* | gerund | that email *not said here* |  |  |  |  | for Mum's password | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His excuse sounded a bit fishy to the teacher.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fishy:x3:1
# text = His excuse sounded a bit fishy to the teacher.
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	excuse	excuse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	sounded	sound	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	bit	bit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	fishy	fishy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
7	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sound** | past | His excuse | a bit |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location bit=Theme |
| 2 | **excuse** |  | His *= he* |  |  |  |  |  | nom excuse «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The cat loved the fishy biscuits.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fishy:x4:1
# text = The cat loved the fishy biscuits.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	loved	love	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	fishy	fishy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	biscuits	biscuit	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **love** | past | the cat | the fishy biscuits |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer biscuit=Stimulus |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The detective thought the butler's story was fishy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fishy:x5:1
# text = The detective thought the butler's story was fishy.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	detective	detective	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	thought	think	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	butler	butler	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	's	's	PART	POS	_	5	case	_	_
7	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
8	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
9	fishy	fishy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **think** *speech: other* | past | the detective |  |  |  |  |  | vn focus-87.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | past | the butler's story |  |  |  |  | fishy *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My hands smelled fishy after the beach.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fishy:x6:1
# text = My hands smelled fishy after the beach.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	hands	hand	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	smelled	smell	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	fishy	fishy	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
5	after	after	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	beach	beach	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **smell** | past | My hands |  |  |  | after the beach | fishy *property* | vn smell\_emission-43.3 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
This rock pool is very fishy — look at all those little fish!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fishy:x7:1
# text = This rock pool is very fishy — look at all those little fish!
1	This	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	3	det	_	_
2	rock	rock	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	pool	pool	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	very	very	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	fishy	fishy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
7	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
8	look	look	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	6	parataxis	_	_
9	at	at	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
10	all	all	DET	PDT	PronType=Tot	13	det:predet	_	_
11	those	that	DET	DT	Number=Plur|PronType=Dem	13	det	_	_
12	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	fish	fish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | this rock pool |  |  |  |  | fishy *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **look** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | at all little fish | vn peer-30.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent at fish=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 -->

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