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Synonyms

teacher's pet

American  

noun

  1. a pupil who is a favorite of a teacher.


teacher's pet Idioms  
  1. A person who has gained favor with authority, as in Al has managed to be teacher's pet in any job he has held. This expression transfers the original sense of a teacher's favorite pupil to broader use. [1920s]


Etymology

Origin of teacher's pet

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"He wasn't quite the teacher’s pet, but the teachers were always asking 'do you agree with that Erik?'"

From BBC • Sep. 25, 2024

Even then, a teacher’s pet like me could have gotten the decision overturned.

From Washington Post • Jun. 5, 2022

Connie is essentially power-hungry teacher’s pet Tracy Flick from “Election,” if she grew up to become an Olympic race-walking champion who has struggled with infertility.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 9, 2021

“I was the teacher’s pet, and Lance was the funniest guy in the room,” said Hoffman, who played keyboards in the band.

From New York Times • May 31, 2021

Five: Twenty years ago, as the senior prank, someone had let the biology teacher’s pet python loose.

From "Made You Up" by Francesca Zappia

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