---
title: trick — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «trick» in the school dictionary: Something done to fool or cheat someone. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# trick

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** clever action, clever way, trick, Verb, someone, He · **What happens:** do, fool, cheat, need, remember, play · **To what, where:** someone, skill, something, joke, trick, magic trick · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«trick» in the school dictionary: its 5 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: [trick in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/trick.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Something done to fool or cheat someone.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:trick:m1:1
# text = Something done to fool or cheat someone.
1	Something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	0	root	_	_
2	done	do	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	1	acl	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	fool	fool	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	cheat	cheat	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	conj	_	_
7	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **fool** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn trick-59.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **cheat** | infinitive |  | someone |  |  |  |  | vn cheat-10.6.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent someone=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.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A clever or funny action that needs skill: a magic trick, a skateboard trick.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:trick:m2:1
# text = A clever or funny action that needs skill: a magic trick, a skateboard trick.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
2	clever	clever	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	funny	funny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	_
5	action	action	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
6	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
7	needs	need	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	skill	skill	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	12	punct	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	magic	magic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	trick	trick	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
15	skateboard	skateboard	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	compound	_	_
16	trick	trick	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **need** | present | a clever action | skill |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot skill=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A clever way of doing something: a trick for remembering.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:trick:m3:1
# text = A clever way of doing something: a trick for remembering.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	clever	clever	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
4	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	5	mark	_	_
5	doing	do	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	acl	_	_
6	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	trick	trick	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
10	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
11	remembering	remember	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	9	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | gerund | a clever way *not said here* | something |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |
| 2 | **remember** | gerund | a trick *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A joke played on someone: play a trick on.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:trick:m4:1
# text = A joke played on someone: play a trick on.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	joke	joke	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	played	play	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	7	punct	_	_
7	play	play	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	parataxis	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	trick	trick	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
10	on	on	ADP	RP	_	7	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **play** | participle |  | a joke *not said here* |  | someone |  |  | vn performance-26.7-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **play on** | infinitive |  | a trick |  |  |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent trick=Theme |

## Meaning 5 {#m5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Verb: to make someone believe something false.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:trick:m5:1
# text = Verb: to make someone believe something false.
1	Verb	verb	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	4	punct	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	4	obj	_	_
6	believe	believe	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	obj	_	_
8	false	false	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | to-infinitive | Verb | someone |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **believe** | infinitive | someone *not said here* | something |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer something=Stimulus |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He did a magic trick with a coin.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:trick:x1:1
# text = He did a magic trick with a coin.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	did	do	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	magic	magic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	trick	trick	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	coin	coin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | past | He | a magic trick |  |  |  | with a coin | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent trick=Eventuality |

## Example 2 {#x2}

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

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:trick:x2:1
# text = The fox tricked the crow into dropping the cheese.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	fox	fox	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	tricked	trick	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	crow	crow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	into	into	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
7	dropping	drop	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	advcl	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	cheese	cheese	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It was a trick question!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:trick:x3:1
# text = It was a trick question!
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	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	trick	trick	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	question	question	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | It | a trick question |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We went trick-or-treating on Halloween.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:trick:x4:1
# text = We went trick-or-treating on Halloween.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	went	go	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	trick	trick	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	treating	treat	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	conj	_	_
8	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	Halloween	Halloween	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** | past | We | trick |  |  |  |  | vn meander-47.7 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location trick=Theme |
| 2 | **treat** | gerund | We *not said here* |  |  | Halloween |  |  | vn equip-13.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A stranger might use a trick like «help me find my puppy» — say no and tell an adult.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:trick:x5:1
# text = A stranger might use a trick like «help me find my puppy» — say no and tell an adult.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	stranger	stranger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	might	might	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	use	use	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	trick	trick	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	like	like	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	help	help	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	advcl	_	_
10	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	9	obj	_	_
11	find	find	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	xcomp	_	_
12	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	13	nmod:poss	_	_
13	puppy	puppy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	9	punct	_	_
15	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	16	punct	_	_
16	say	say	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	4	parataxis	_	_
17	no	no	INTJ	UH	Polarity=Neg	16	discourse	_	_
18	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
19	tell	tell	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	16	conj	_	_
20	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
21	adult	adult	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | might | a stranger | a trick |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent trick=Patient |
| 2 | **help** *in a quote* | infinitive | a stranger *not said here* | me |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent i=Beneficiary clause=Theme |
| 3 | **find** *in a quote* | infinitive | me *not said here* | my puppy |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent puppy=Topic |
| 4 | **say** *speech: assert* | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 5 | **tell** *speech: assert* | infinitive | a adult |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My dog can do tricks.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:trick:x6:1
# text = My dog can do tricks.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	tricks	trick	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | can | My dog | tricks |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent trick=Eventuality |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Here's a trick to remember the planets.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:trick:x7:1
# text = Here's a trick to remember the planets.
1	Here	here	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	trick	trick	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nsubj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	remember	remember	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	acl	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	planets	planet	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | a trick |  |  |  |  | here *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **remember** | to-infinitive | a trick *not said here* | the planets |  |  |  |  | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent planet=Theme |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A cold flannel did the trick.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:trick:x8:1
# text = A cold flannel did the trick.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	cold	cold	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	flannel	flannel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	did	do	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	trick	trick	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 | **do** | past | a cold flannel | the trick |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent trick=Eventuality |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
So the Farmer hit on a trick.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:trick:x9:1
# text = So the Farmer hit on a trick.
1	So	so	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	Farmer	Farmer	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	hit	hit	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	trick	trick	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hit** | past | the Farmer |  |  | a trick |  |  | vn contiguous\_location-47.8-1 «NP V»: agent=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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