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der Klassenarsch sein

English translation: class/classroom misfit

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
German term or phrase:der Klassenarsch sein
English translation:class/classroom misfit

13:20 Jul 16, 2006
German to English translations [PRO]
Social Sciences - Slang / in school
German term or phrase: der Klassenarsch sein
In Germany this term is used for the poor kid who gets always harassed and teased in school or is just extremely unpopular. "Klassenarsch" is a rather rude and insulting word.
I'm doing a text on bullying in school and just can't find an English equivalent of "Klassenarsch" that really fits. You cannot say "ass of the class" can you?
Ipsissima Verba
Local time: 18:10
class/classroom misfit
Explanation:
Might work as the one that is always picked on for not fitting in.
Selected response from:

jerrie
United Kingdom
Local time: 17:10
Grading comment
Thanks for your answer! It's really close to the German term of "Klassenarsch", which has a rather general meaning and doesn't refer to a certain genre of people such as nerds or geeks. "The one who's always picked on" also fits quite well.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +2class chump/stooge/boob/whipping boy
Lori Dendy-Molz
3 +1class/classroom misfit
jerrie
3to be the class geek
Kim Metzger
3to be the class nerd
Erich Friese
3lowest form of life in the class(room)
IanW (X)
3class scapegoat
Maureen Millington-Brodie
3class loser / school loser
JSolis
3butt of jokes
Ingeborg Gowans (X)
3to be the class dork
doctor_suz


Discussion entries: 2





  

Answers


13 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
to be the class geek


Explanation:
Geek Not to be confused with Nerd. A geek does not have to be smart, a Geek is someone who is generally not athletic, and enjoys Video Games; Comic Books; being on the internet, and etc.
Only a geek would waste their time on the internet, defining geek on urbandictionary.com

Geek - The people you pick on in high school and wind up working for as an adult
The geeky kid now owns a million dollar software company
An 'individual', i.e. a person who does not conform to society's beliefs that all people should follow trends and do what their peers do. Often highly intelligent but socially rejected because of their obsession with a given subject, usually computers. Unfortunately, nerds seem to have problems breeding, to the detriment of mankind as a whole.

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=geek

Nerd
An 'individual', i.e. a person who does not conform to society's beliefs that all people should follow trends and do what their peers do. Often highly intelligent but socially rejected because of their obsession with a given subject, usually computers. Unfortunately, nerds seem to have problems breeding, to the detriment of mankind as a whole.
"Nerds are clearly superior to us in every way.. Let's worship them as our Gods"

nerd A stereotypical label used to describe a person that is socially inadequate. A four letter word, but a six figure income.
Think Bill Gates, but typically on a smaller scale.

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=nerd



Kim Metzger
Mexico
Local time: 10:10
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 20
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15 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
to be the class nerd


Explanation:
nerd // n. (coll. derog.) Depp, der (abwertend)
common usage


Erich Friese
Australia
Local time: 02:10
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman, Native in EnglishEnglish
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20 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +2
class chump/stooge/boob/whipping boy


Explanation:
...are all possibilities, among many others. You could also say the "target of abuse"

Lori Dendy-Molz
Germany
Local time: 18:10
Works in field
Native speaker of: English

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Ian M-H (X): Your "target of abuse" is close and gets to the point: there's probably no single word in English to do the job. "The one who always gets picked on". No particular reason to think of "geek" or "nerd" here IMO. Definitely not "boob" in BE, though!
2 hrs
  -> Yes, the dynamics of classroom sadism being what they are, the geeks and nerds aren't always the ones who take the abuse. Hard to capture it succinctly, but jerrie's 'classroom misfit' is pretty close.//Yes, 'boob' is probably best avoided.
agree  Francis Lee (X): I'll give you an Agree just for "chump"!
6 hrs
  -> Thanks! One of my favorites too, but probably not in the vocab of today's typical schoolkid.
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41 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
class/classroom misfit


Explanation:
Might work as the one that is always picked on for not fitting in.


    Reference: http://www.powells.com/cgi-bin/biblio?inkey=2-0064408124-1
jerrie
United Kingdom
Local time: 17:10
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 8
Grading comment
Thanks for your answer! It's really close to the German term of "Klassenarsch", which has a rather general meaning and doesn't refer to a certain genre of people such as nerds or geeks. "The one who's always picked on" also fits quite well.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Ian M-H (X): If it has to be short, this would do it. If not then maybe just "the one who is always picked on"?
2 hrs
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
lowest form of life in the class(room)


Explanation:
Not as concise as the German term, but you might be able to work it into a sentence convincingly.

IanW (X)
Local time: 18:10
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4
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3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
class scapegoat


Explanation:
this is what it sounds like from your description; or "class whipping boy"

Maureen Millington-Brodie
United Kingdom
Local time: 17:10
Native speaker of: English
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5 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
class loser / school loser


Explanation:
It's kind of insulting, as is the German.

(Goosebumps Book #50) Ricky is considered the class loser. And he's tired of Tasha's constant teasing and all the bullying. ...
members.fortunecity.com/aquila10/01-goosebumps.html

... It's the story about the high school loser who avenges herself on her tormentors, ...
www.villagevoice.com/vls/163,,8305,21.html


JSolis
United States
Local time: 12:10
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
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5 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
butt of jokes


Explanation:
just another suggestion, not necessarily in the classroom situation; actually geek can also be found in any group constellation..

Ingeborg Gowans (X)
Canada
Local time: 13:10
Works in field
Native speaker of: German
PRO pts in category: 8
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1 day 13 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
to be the class dork


Explanation:
I was first inclined to agree with Kim Metzger, but after discussing the fine details with my American-born husband, a geek is smart, a dork is dumb. This sounds like a term for a dumb one.

doctor_suz
United States
Local time: 11:10
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman, Native in EnglishEnglish
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