---
title: flog — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «flog» in the school dictionary: To beat someone hard with a whip or stick as a punishment (now illegal in most places). Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# flog

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, UK, Someone, Trying, cruel captain, They · **What happens:** beat, sell, steal, flog, not work, break · **To what, where:** someone, something, dead horse, sailors, old scooter, Australia slang

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To beat someone hard with a whip or stick as a punishment (now illegal in most places).

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flog:m1:1
# text = To beat someone hard with a whip or stick as a punishment (now illegal in most places).
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	beat	beat	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	hard	hard	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	2	advmod	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	whip	whip	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	stick	stick	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	_
10	as	as	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	punishment	punishment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
13	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	now	now	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	15	advmod	_	_
15	illegal	illegal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
16	in	in	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
17	most	most	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	18	amod	_	_
18	places	place	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **beat** | to-infinitive |  | someone |  |  |  | with a whip or stick; as a punishment; hard *property* | vn hit-18.1-1 «NP V NP PP.instrument»: agent=Agent someone=Patient with whip=Instrument |

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To sell something, often quickly or cheaply.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flog:m2:1
# text = To sell something, often quickly or cheaply.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	sell	sell	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
5	often	often	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	quickly	quickly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	cheaply	cheaply	ADV	RB	_	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sell** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  | quickly *property* | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: Australia, NZ slang — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To steal.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flog:m3:1
# text = To steal.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	steal	steal	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **steal** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«flog a dead horse»: waste effort on something that will not work.

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flog:m4:1
# text = «flog a dead horse»: waste effort on something that will not work.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	flog	flog	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	dead	dead	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	horse	horse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
8	waste	waste	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	effort	effort	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
10	on	on	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	9	nmod	_	_
12	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	15	nsubj	_	_
13	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	15	aux	_	_
14	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	15	advmod	_	_
15	work	work	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **flog** *in a quote* | imperative | you *not said here* | a dead horse |  |  |  | waste effort on something *obl* | vn spank-18.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent horse=Patient |
| 2 | **not** **work** | future |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn employment-95.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Long ago, sailors were flogged for breaking rules.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flog:x1:1
# text = Long ago, sailors were flogged for breaking rules.
1	Long	long	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	2	advmod	_	_
2	ago	ago	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	sailors	sailor	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
5	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux:pass	_	_
6	flogged	flog	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	breaking	break	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	9	amod	_	_
9	rules	rule	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **flog** | past · passive |  | sailors |  |  |  | for breaking rules; ago *property* | vn steal-10.5-1 «NP V NP PP.beneficiary»: subject=Theme for rule=Beneficiary |
| 2 | **break** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
(UK informal) I'm going to flog my old scooter online.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flog:x2:1
# text = (UK informal) I'm going to flog my old scooter online.
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	UK	UK	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	informal	informal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	2	punct	_	_
5	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	'm	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
7	going	go	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	flog	flog	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	xcomp	_	_
10	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	12	nmod:poss	_	_
11	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	scooter	scooter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	_
13	online	online	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** | present · progressive | UK |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7 «NP V S-Quote»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **flog** | to-infinitive | UK *not said here* | my old scooter |  |  |  | online *property* | vn spank-18.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent scooter=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
(Australia slang) Someone flogged my pencil case!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flog:x3:1
# text = (Australia slang) Someone flogged my pencil case!
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Australia	Australia	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	slang	slang	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	3	punct	_	_
5	Someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	nsubj	_	_
6	flogged	flog	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
8	pencil	pencil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	case	case	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **flog** | past | Someone | Australia slang |  |  |  |  | vn spank-18.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent case=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Trying to fix that broken toy is flogging a dead horse.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flog:x4:1
# text = Trying to fix that broken toy is flogging a dead horse.
1	Trying	try	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	8	csubj	_	_
2	to	to	PART	TO	_	3	mark	_	_
3	fix	fix	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	xcomp	_	_
4	that	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	6	det	_	_
5	broken	break	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	amod	_	_
6	toy	toy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
8	flogging	flog	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	dead	dead	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	horse	horse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **try** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **fix** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | that broken toy |  |  |  |  | vn shake-22.3-2 «NP V NP together»: agent=Agent toy=Patient |
| 3 | **break** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Patient |
| 4 | **flog** | present · progressive | Trying | a dead horse |  |  |  |  | vn spank-18.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent horse=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The cruel captain flogged the crew.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flog:x5:1
# text = The cruel captain flogged the crew.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	cruel	cruel	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	captain	captain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	flogged	flog	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	crew	crew	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **flog** | past | the cruel captain | the crew |  |  |  |  | vn spank-18.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent crew=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
(informal) They flogged all the cakes in ten minutes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flog:x6:1
# text = (informal) They flogged all the cakes in ten minutes.
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	informal	informal	NUM	LS	_	5	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	2	punct	_	_
4	They	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
5	flogged	flog	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	all	all	DET	PDT	PronType=Tot	8	det:predet	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	cakes	cake	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	ten	ten	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	11	nummod	_	_
11	minutes	minute	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **flog** | past | They | all cakes |  |  | minute |  | vn spank-18.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent cake=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The king read the paper, and ordering the man to be flogged, dismissed him.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flog:x7:1
# text = The king read the paper, and ordering the man to be flogged, dismissed him.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	king	king	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	read	read	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	paper	paper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	ordering	order	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	advcl	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	man	man	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
11	to	to	PART	TO	_	13	mark	_	_
12	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	13	aux:pass	_	_
13	flogged	flog	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	10	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
15	dismissed	dismiss	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
16	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	15	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **read** | past | the king | the paper |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent paper=Topic |
| 2 | **order** | gerund | the king *not said here* |  | the man |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent man=Theme |
| 3 | **flog** | to-infinitive · passive | the king *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn spank-18.3 «NP V NP» |
| 4 | **dismiss** | past | the king *not said here* | man |  |  |  |  | vn banish-10.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent he=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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