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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.

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

From Washington Post • Jun. 5, 2022

Amerie was "super-outgoing" and a "teacher's pet", she added.

From BBC • May 25, 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 consciously learned and performed my race,” he writes, “like a teacher’s pet in an advanced placement course on black masculinity.”

From New York Times • Oct. 14, 2019

I hadn’t even been here for a minute, and already I was supposed to follow Ms. Spurlock—Samira—who was apparently teacher’s pet here, too.

From "Maybe He Just Likes You" by Barbara Dee

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