 In most of my classes there is always one student that does all the homework, studies everything very carefully and works very hard to improve their English. Of course, this means that when the other students notice this, they always say to the good student: “You are a pelota!!!”
In most cases, the students don't know how to say “pelota” in English. So the next thing that I hear is: “Teacher, how do you say “pelota” in English?” The most logical translation of “pelota” is “ball” but in this case that does not work. “Ball” is only used if you are talking about a “pelota” that you use in the park to play football. The correct translation of “pelota” in the classroom is: “teacher's pet” (notice the saxon genitive = the pet that belongs to the teacher!). Anyway I hope that helps! Are you the teacher's pet?
3 Comments
EMC
10/18/2016 06:45:48 am
I would use also "brown-noser" because sometimes they use the word "pelota" to describe someone who is not that good student but compliments the teacher in order to get good grades with a work that's mediocre. Also, "pelota" could be used in the work environment when a coworker compliments constantly and agrees in everything whith the boss even if it goes against comon sense.
Ignacio
4/21/2017 02:27:31 am
I'm fully agree with EMC. I would say that word "pelota" has that more pejorative meaning that the other (you being a superb student.
Dani Téllez
8/7/2018 11:20:39 pm
I fully agree; no I'm fully agree. This is a common mistake as we would translate as "estoy totalmente de acuerdo" using the verb to be, but not in English language. Regards, Dani Leave a Reply. |
Daniel Smith
Soy el director de Daniel Smith + Partners. Tengo más de 10 años de experiencia enseñando inglés a españoles. Archives
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