---
title: flattery — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «flattery» in the school dictionary: Flattery is praise that is too much or not sincere, often given to please someone or to get something from them. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# flattery

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Flattery praise, fox, Flattery, I, courtiers, Honest praise · **What happens:** be, not be, give, please, get, use · **To what, where:** Flattery praise, someone, something, flattery, crow, you · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Flattery is praise that is too much or not sincere, often given to please someone or to get something from them.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flattery:m1:1
# text = Flattery is praise that is too much or not sincere, often given to please someone or to get something from them.
1	Flattery	flattery	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	praise	praise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	too	too	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	much	much	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	acl:relcl	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
9	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	10	advmod	_	_
10	sincere	sincere	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
12	often	often	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	_
13	given	give	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	10	advcl	_	_
14	to	to	PART	TO	_	15	mark	_	_
15	please	please	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	13	xcomp	_	_
16	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	15	obj	_	_
17	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
18	to	to	PART	TO	_	19	mark	_	_
19	get	get	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	15	conj	_	_
20	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	19	obj	_	_
21	from	from	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
22	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	19	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present |  | Flattery praise |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present | Flattery praise |  |  |  |  | much *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **not** **be** |  | Flattery praise *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **give** | participle | Flattery praise *not said here* |  |  |  |  | often *property* | tree rules |
| 5 | **please** | to-infinitive | Flattery praise *not said here* | someone |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus someone=Experiencer |
| 6 | **get** | to-infinitive | Flattery praise *not said here* | something |  |  |  | from them *= they* | vn get-13.5.1-1 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent something=Theme from they=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.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The fox used flattery to trick the crow into singing.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flattery:x1:1
# text = The fox used flattery to trick the crow into singing.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	fox	fox	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	used	use	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	flattery	flattery	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	trick	trick	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	crow	crow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	into	into	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
10	singing	sing	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	6	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | past | the fox | flattery |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent flattery=Patient |
| 2 | **trick** | to-infinitive | the fox *not said here* | the crow |  |  |  |  | vn trick-59.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent crow=Patient |
| 3 | **sing** *speech: express* | gerund | the fox *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Flattery will get you nowhere,» laughed Mum when I said she was the best cook in the world.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flattery:x2:1
# text = «Flattery will get you nowhere,» laughed Mum when I said she was the best cook in the world.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Flattery	flattery	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	get	get	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	ccomp	_	_
5	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	4	obj	_	_
6	nowhere	nowhere	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	4	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	9	punct	_	_
9	laughed	laugh	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	Mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	_
11	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	13	advmod	_	_
12	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	_
13	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	advcl	_	_
14	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	18	nsubj	_	_
15	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	18	cop	_	_
16	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
17	best	good	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	18	amod	_	_
18	cook	cook	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	ccomp	_	_
19	in	in	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
20	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
21	world	world	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **get** *in a quote* | future | Flattery | you |  |  |  | nowhere *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer you=Stimulus |
| 2 | **laugh** | past |  | Mum |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | I |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **is a** | past | Flattery | the best cook |  | the world |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The courtiers covered the king in flattery.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flattery:x3:1
# text = The courtiers covered the king in flattery.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	courtiers	courtier	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	covered	cover	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	king	king	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	flattery	flattery	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 | **cover** | past | the courtiers |  | the king |  |  | in flattery | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Agent king=Destination in flattery=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Honest praise is better than flattery.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flattery:x4:1
# text = Honest praise is better than flattery.
1	Honest	honest	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	praise	praise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	better	good	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	0	root	_	_
5	than	than	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	flattery	flattery	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Honest praise |  |  |  |  | than flattery; good *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She saw through his flattery straight away.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flattery:x5:1
# text = She saw through his flattery straight away.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	saw	see	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	through	through	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	flattery	flattery	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	straight	straight	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	away	away	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **see** | past | She |  |  | his flattery |  | away *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |
| 2 | **flatter** |  | his *= he* |  |  |  |  |  | nom flattery «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, people say.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flattery:x6:1
# text = Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, people say.
1	Imitation	imitation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	sincerest	sincere	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	5	amod	_	_
5	form	form	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	flattery	flattery	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
9	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nsubj	_	_
10	say	say	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	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 | Imitation | the sincerest form |  |  |  | of flattery | tree rules |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | people |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He tried flattery to get an extra biscuit.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flattery:x7:1
# text = He tried flattery to get an extra biscuit.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	tried	try	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	flattery	flattery	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	get	get	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
6	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	extra	extra	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	biscuit	biscuit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **try** | past | He | flattery |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **get** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | He *not said here* | a extra biscuit |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer biscuit=Stimulus |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Do not let flattery throw you off your guard against an enemy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flattery:x8:1
# text = Do not let flattery throw you off your guard against an enemy.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
2	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	let	let	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	flattery	flattery	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	throw	throw	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	5	obj	_	_
7	off	off	ADP	RP	_	5	compound:prt	_	_
8	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	guard	guard	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
10	against	against	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	enemy	enemy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **let** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* | flattery |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **throw off** | infinitive | flattery *not said here* | your guard | you |  |  | against a enemy | vn throw-17.1-1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent you=Destination guard=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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