---
title: sneaky — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «sneaky» in the school dictionary: Doing things in a secret, sly way so that other people do not notice. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# sneaky

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** other people, sneaky fox, brother, That, Mum, question · **What happens:** do, not notice, get, trick, creep up, have · **To what, where:** things, secret, sly way, advantage, someone, henhouse · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«sneaky» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 9 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: [sneaky in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/sneaky.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Doing things in a secret, sly way so that other people do not notice.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sneaky:m1:1
# text = Doing things in a secret, sly way so that other people do not notice.
1	Doing	do	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
2	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	secret	secret	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
7	sly	sly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	appos	_	_
9	so	so	SCONJ	IN	ExtPos=SCONJ	15	mark	_	_
10	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	9	fixed	_	_
11	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	nsubj	_	_
13	do	do	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	15	aux	_	_
14	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	15	advmod	_	_
15	notice	notice	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | gerund |  | things |  | a secret |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent thing=Eventuality |
| 2 | **not** **notice** | present · do-support | other people | sly way *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn see-30.1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Experiencer way=Stimulus |

<!-- .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 -->
Done quietly or secretly, often to get an advantage or to trick someone.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sneaky:m2:1
# text = Done quietly or secretly, often to get an advantage or to trick someone.
1	Done	do	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
2	quietly	quietly	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	secretly	secretly	ADV	RB	_	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
6	often	often	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	get	get	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
9	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	advantage	advantage	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
12	to	to	PART	TO	_	13	mark	_	_
13	trick	trick	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	conj	_	_
14	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	13	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | participle |  |  |  |  |  | quietly *property* | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **get** | to-infinitive |  | a advantage |  |  |  | often *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer advantage=Stimulus |
| 3 | **trick** | to-infinitive |  | someone |  |  |  |  | vn trick-59.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent someone=Patient |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Small and hidden but clever, like a sneaky trick or a sneaky snack.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sneaky:m3:1
# text = Small and hidden but clever, like a sneaky trick or a sneaky snack.
1	Small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
2	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	hidden	hidden	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	conj	_	_
4	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	clever	clever	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
7	like	like	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	sneaky	sneaky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	trick	trick	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
13	sneaky	sneaky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	snack	snack	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The sneaky fox crept up to the henhouse at night.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sneaky:x1:1
# text = The sneaky fox crept up to the henhouse at night.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	sneaky	sneaky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	fox	fox	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	crept	creep	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	up	up	ADP	RP	_	4	compound:prt	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	henhouse	henhouse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
9	at	at	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	night	night	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **creep up** | past | the sneaky fox |  |  | the henhouse | night |  | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme to henhouse=Destination |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My brother had a sneaky look at his presents before his birthday.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sneaky:x2:1
# text = My brother had a sneaky look at his presents before his birthday.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	brother	brother	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	6	det	_	_
5	sneaky	sneaky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	look	look	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	at	at	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	presents	present	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
10	before	before	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	12	nmod:poss	_	_
12	birthday	birthday	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | My brother | a sneaky look |  | brother's presents | before brother's birthday |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent look=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
That was a sneaky move in the chess game!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sneaky:x3:1
# text = That was a sneaky move in the chess game!
1	That	that	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	5	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	sneaky	sneaky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	move	move	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	chess	chess	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	game	game	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | That | a sneaky move |  | the chess game |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mum caught me having a sneaky biscuit before tea.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sneaky:x4:1
# text = Mum caught me having a sneaky biscuit before tea.
1	Mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	caught	catch	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	obj	_	_
4	having	have	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	sneaky	sneaky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	biscuit	biscuit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
8	before	before	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	tea	tea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **catch** | past | Mum | me |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent i=Theme |
| 2 | **have** | gerund | Mum *not said here* | a sneaky biscuit |  |  | before tea |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent biscuit=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The question was sneaky: it asked for the difference, not the sum.

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sneaky:x5:1
# text = The question was sneaky: it asked for the difference, not the sum.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	question	question	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	sneaky	sneaky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	7	punct	_	_
6	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	asked	ask	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	difference	difference	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
12	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	14	advmod	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	sum	sum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the question |  |  |  |  | sneaky *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **ask** *speech: ask* | past | question |  |  |  |  | for the difference and the sum | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't be sneaky — tell the teacher what really happened.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sneaky:x6:1
# text = Don't be sneaky — tell the teacher what really happened.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
3	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	cop	_	_
4	sneaky	sneaky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	6	punct	_	_
6	tell	tell	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	parataxis	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	11	nsubj	_	_
10	really	really	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
11	happened	happen	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **is** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | sneaky *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **tell** *speech: assert* | infinitive |  |  | the teacher |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP what S»: agent=Agent teacher=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 3 | **happen** | past |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The cat is sneaky and steals food off the bench.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sneaky:x7:1
# text = The cat is sneaky and steals food off the bench.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	sneaky	sneaky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	steals	steal	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
7	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
8	off	off	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	bench	bench	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the cat |  |  |  |  | sneaky *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **steal** | present | the cat *not said here* | food |  | the bench |  |  | vn steal-10.5-1 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent food=Theme off bench=Source |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She gave a sneaky smile because she knew the answer.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sneaky:x8:1
# text = She gave a sneaky smile because she knew the answer.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	gave	give	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	sneaky	sneaky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	smile	smile	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
7	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	knew	know	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	answer	answer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | past | She | a sneaky smile |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent smile=Theme |
| 2 | **know** | past | she | the answer |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Experiencer answer=Stimulus |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
“Sneaky tell-tale!” Tink called out from somewhere round the corner.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* “Sneaky tell-tale!”

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sneaky:x9:1
# text = “Sneaky tell-tale!”
1	“	"	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Sneaky	sneaky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
3	tell	tell	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	tale	tale	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	”	"	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
```

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

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* Tink called out from somewhere round the corner.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sneaky:x9:2
# text = Tink called out from somewhere round the corner.
1	Tink	Tink	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
3	out	out	ADP	RP	_	2	compound:prt	_	_
4	from	from	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	somewhere	somewhere	ADV	RB	PronType=Ind	2	obl	_	_
6	round	round	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	corner	corner	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call out** *speech: assert* | participle · passive |  | Tink |  |  |  | round the corner | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP PP.source»: subject=Theme from somewhere=Source |

<!-- 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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