---
title: sly — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «sly» in the school dictionary: Sly means clever in a sneaky way, good at tricking people and hiding what you really plan. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# sly

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, sly smile, someone, others, sly, sly fox · **What happens:** mean, trick, hide, plan, look, wink · **To what, where:** people, secret, joke, crow, cheese, friend · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sly means clever in a sneaky way, good at tricking people and hiding what you really plan.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sly:m1:1
# text = Sly means clever in a sneaky way, good at tricking people and hiding what you really plan.
1	Sly	sly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	clever	clever	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	sneaky	sneaky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
9	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
10	at	at	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
11	tricking	trick	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	9	advcl	_	_
12	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	obj	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	hiding	hide	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	11	conj	_	_
15	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	18	obj	_	_
16	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	18	nsubj	_	_
17	really	really	ADV	RB	_	18	advmod	_	_
18	plan	plan	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  | in a sneaky way; clever, sly *property* | vn representation-110.1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Pivot in way=Attribute |
| 2 | **trick** | gerund |  | people |  |  |  |  | vn trick-59.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent people=Patient |
| 3 | **hide** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **plan** | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent what=Topic |

<!-- .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}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A sly smile, look or wink shows that someone knows a secret or a joke that others do not.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sly:m2:1
# text = A sly smile, look or wink shows that someone knows a secret or a joke that others do not.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	sly	sly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	smile	smile	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
5	look	look	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	parataxis	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	wink	wink	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	_
8	shows	show	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
10	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	11	nsubj	_	_
11	knows	know	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	ccomp	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	secret	secret	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	_
14	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	joke	joke	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	conj	_	_
17	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	19	obj	_	_
18	others	other	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	19	nsubj	_	_
19	do	do	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	16	acl:relcl	_	_
20	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	19	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |
| 2 | **wink** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn wink-40.3.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **show** | present | a sly smile |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 4 | **know** | present | someone | a secret or a joke |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Experiencer secret=Stimulus |
| 5 | **not** **do** | present | others | a joke |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent that=Eventuality |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«On the sly» means secretly, so that others do not notice.

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sly:m3:1
# text = «On the sly» means secretly, so that others do not notice.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	On	on	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	sly	sly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
6	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	secretly	secretly	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
9	so	so	SCONJ	IN	ExtPos=SCONJ	14	mark	_	_
10	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	9	fixed	_	_
11	others	other	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	nsubj	_	_
12	do	do	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	aux	_	_
13	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	14	advmod	_	_
14	notice	notice	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | the sly |  |  |  |  | secretly *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **not** **notice** | present · do-support | others |  |  |  |  |  | vn see-30.1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The sly fox tricked the crow into dropping its cheese.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sly:x1:1
# text = The sly fox tricked the crow into dropping its cheese.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	sly	sly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	fox	fox	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	tricked	trick	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	crow	crow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	into	into	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
8	dropping	drop	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	advcl	_	_
9	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	cheese	cheese	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **trick** | past | the sly fox | the crow |  |  |  |  | vn trick-59.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent crow=Patient |
| 2 | **drop** | gerund | the sly fox *not said here* | fox's cheese |  |  |  |  | vn put\_direction-9.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent cheese=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Be careful: a sly person may pretend to be your friend to get something.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sly:x2:1
# text = Be careful: a sly person may pretend to be your friend to get something.
1	Be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	cop	_	_
2	careful	careful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	sly	sly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
7	may	may	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
8	pretend	pretend	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	conj	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	12	mark	_	_
10	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	cop	_	_
11	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	12	nmod:poss	_	_
12	friend	friend	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	xcomp	_	_
13	to	to	PART	TO	_	14	mark	_	_
14	get	get	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	advcl	_	_
15	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	14	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | careful *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **pretend** | may | a sly person |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **is a** | to-infinitive | a sly person *not said here* | your friend |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **get** | to-infinitive | a sly person *not said here* | something |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer something=Stimulus |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Tom gave me a sly wink when the teacher wasn't looking.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sly:x3:1
# text = Tom gave me a sly wink when the teacher wasn't looking.
1	Tom	Tom	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	iobj	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	sly	sly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	wink	wink	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
7	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	12	mark	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
10	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	12	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	12	advmod	_	_
12	looking	look	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | past | Tom | a sly wink | me |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent i=Recipient wink=Theme |
| 2 | **not** **look** | past · progressive | the teacher |  |  |  |  |  | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She had a sly smile, so I knew she had hidden my shoes.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sly:x4:1
# text = She had a sly smile, so I knew she had hidden my shoes.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	sly	sly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	smile	smile	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
7	so	so	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
8	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	knew	know	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	parataxis	_	_
10	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
11	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	12	aux	_	_
12	hidden	hide	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	9	ccomp	_	_
13	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	14	nmod:poss	_	_
14	shoes	shoe	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | She | a sly smile |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent smile=Patient |
| 2 | **know** | past | I |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer clause=Stimulus |
| 3 | **hide** | past · perfect | she | my shoes |  |  |  |  | vn concealment-16-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent shoe=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He was eating sweets on the sly during the film.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sly:x5:1
# text = He was eating sweets on the sly during the film.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	eating	eat	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	sweets	sweet	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	sly	sly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	obl	_	_
8	during	during	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	film	film	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **eat** | past · progressive | He | sweets |  | the sly |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sweet=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The sly cat waited quietly until the bird came close.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sly:x6:1
# text = The sly cat waited quietly until the bird came close.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	sly	sly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	waited	wait	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	quietly	quietly	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
6	until	until	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	bird	bird	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
9	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	advcl	_	_
10	close	close	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	9	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wait** | past | the sly cat |  |  |  |  | quietly *property* | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **come** | past | the bird |  |  |  |  | close *property* | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"No need to search any farther," thought sly Master Fox.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sly:x7:1
# text = "No need to search any farther," thought sly Master Fox.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	No	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	3	det	_	_
3	need	need	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	search	search	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	acl	_	_
6	any	any	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	7	det	_	_
7	farther	far	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	10	punct	_	_
10	thought	think	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
11	sly	sly	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
12	Master	mast	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	13	amod	_	_
13	Fox	fox	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **search** *in a quote* | to-infinitive | Master Fox *not said here* |  |  |  |  | far *property* | vn search-35.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **think** *speech: other* | past | Master Fox |  |  |  |  |  | vn focus-87.1-1 «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 -->

<!-- pn -->
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