teacher's pet
MediumInformal, sometimes mildly derogatory or teasing.
Definition
Meaning
A student who is perceived by other students to be the teacher's favorite, often because they are particularly obedient or eager to please.
More broadly, any person who is perceived as excessively eager to please an authority figure in a group setting, such as a boss's favorite employee or a coach's favorite player.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term is almost exclusively used in a negative or teasing sense by peers. It focuses on the perception of others, not necessarily the actual relationship between the teacher and student. It implies the student gains favor through sycophancy, not necessarily merit.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The term is equally common and carries the same connotations in both varieties.
Connotations
Strongly negative connotation from the perspective of other students; implies lack of peer acceptance and possible unfair advantage.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in school/childhood contexts, but readily understood and used in adult contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
(someone) is the teacher's pet(someone) is a teacher's petto be teacher's pet (zero article)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “get in the teacher's good books”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
"He's always agreeing with the boss in meetings; people are starting to call him the manager's pet."
Academic
Used in sociological studies of classroom dynamics and peer relationships.
Everyday
"Everyone knew Sarah was the teacher's pet because she always volunteered to clean the whiteboard."
Technical
Not typically used in technical language.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- N/A as a standard verb. Informal/playful back-formation: "Stop teacher's-petting and just answer the question."
American English
- N/A as a standard verb. Informal/playful back-formation: "He spent the whole meeting teacher's-petting the new director."
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A as a standard adjective. Can be used attributively: "He's got a real teacher's-pet attitude."
American English
- N/A as a standard adjective. Can be used attributively: "She gave a teacher's-pet smile when she answered."
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Tom is the teacher's pet. He always puts his hand up first.
- Nobody liked him because he was such a teacher's pet, always reminding everyone about homework.
- Accusations of being the teacher's pet can create a difficult social environment for a genuinely keen student.
- The culture of deriding high achievers as the 'teacher's pet' can inadvertently discourage academic engagement among peers.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a literal pet that a teacher might have in class—a dog that follows every command for a treat. The 'teacher's pet' student acts similarly for approval.
Conceptual Metaphor
AUTHORITY IS A MASTER / SEEKING FAVOR IS ANIMAL TRAINING (the student is a trained pet performing for rewards).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid прямой перевод "питомец учителя". The concept exists but is expressed idiomatically (любимчик учителя, подлиза).
- The term is almost always negative/teasing, unlike the more neutral "любимчик".
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a compliment (it is not).
- Writing it as "teachers' pet" (plural possessive) when referring to a single teacher's favorite.
- Using it in formal writing.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the phrase 'teacher's pet' LEAST likely to be used appropriately?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Rarely. It is almost always used critically or teasingly by peers. A teacher would not seriously call a student their 'pet'. The student themselves would not use it positively.
Yes, the pattern is flexible. You can say 'boss's pet', 'manager's pet', etc. The meaning and negative connotation remain the same.
A 'keener' (mainly Canadian/UK) is simply someone very eager and enthusiastic. A 'teacher's pet' specifically implies that this eagerness is directed at currying favor with authority.
Not necessarily. It relates more to perceived behavior (obedience, eagerness to please) than to academic ability. A smart but quiet student might not be labeled as such.
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