[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/sherlock/)

[dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [S](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/s/) / sherlock

# sherlock

proper noun (Sherlock — a name); noun (a Sherlock, Sherlocks — informal)

«sherlock» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. (a name) Sherlock Holmes is a famous fictional detective in stories by Arthur Conan Doyle, who solves crimes by careful noticing and logical thinking. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sherlock/#m1)
2. (informal) A person who is good at finding things out: "Well done, Sherlock!" [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sherlock/#m2)
3. (informal, sarcastic) Said to someone who has just stated something obvious: "No kidding, Sherlock!" (a ruder version uses a swear word). [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sherlock/#m3)

### In the lessons

In English lessons, Sherlock Holmes stories are classic mysteries; he lives at 221B Baker Street in London with his friend Dr Watson. In everyday life, "Sherlock" is a jokey name for anyone acting like a detective, often sarcastically. In logic puzzles, thinking "like Sherlock" means using clues step by step. Phrases: Sherlock Holmes, Sherlock and Watson, no kidding Sherlock.

### Examples

- Sherlock Holmes lived at 221B Baker Street. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sherlock/#x1)
- "It's raining." "Well spotted, Sherlock!" [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sherlock/#x2)
- My sister played Sherlock and found my hidden chocolate. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sherlock/#x3)
- Sherlock solves crimes by noticing small clues. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sherlock/#x4)
- Dr Watson helps Sherlock on his cases. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sherlock/#x5)
- Let's be Sherlocks and work out who took the cake. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sherlock/#x6)

### Note

A name, so capital S. Holmes's famous line "Elementary, my dear Watson" does not actually appear in the original books. The sarcastic "Sherlock" can sound rude.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «sherlock» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sherlock/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«sherlock» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/sherlock.html) on Mova free.