pessoa infiltrada

English translation: he was already in the know

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Portuguese term or phrase:pessoa infiltrada
English translation:he was already in the know
Entered by: lexical

17:09 Sep 17, 2014
Portuguese to English translations [PRO]
Idioms / Maxims / Sayings / general conversation
Portuguese term or phrase: pessoa infiltrada
The context is a transcribed interview with a Mozambican truck driver about his attitude to his job and completing his education.

"...mas que um dia a conversarmos, éramos três, eu estava com meu amigo, vizinho, então o outro é o que comenta para ele "Tu não queres fazer exame, não sei o que, não quer estudar, não quer fazer outra opção?"
"E eu olhei para ele e ele já era **uma pessoa infiltrada**, né, então pronto, eu só comentei, foi só um comentário, que "poxa que bem que eu gostaria de voltar à escola, mas meu trabalho não me faculta, hoje estou aqui, amanhã estou lá, não sei o que..."

I don't think we're talking about an **undercover person** here. As it's a transcription, we should also not rule out the transcriber mishearing the word.

I'd be grateful for any ideas (even wild ones) as to what this might possibly mean.
lexical
Spain
Local time: 14:39
he was already in on the game
Explanation:
This is my interpretation. He's saying that his friend is able to study because he has access to schooling--has the time, knows the right connections to help him get into school. He's suggesting that it's a game that he's not part of. He's being a little sarcastic because afterwards he almost apologizes for his comment.
Selected response from:

Muriel Vasconcellos
United States
Local time: 06:39
Grading comment
Many thanks Muriel. Your suggestion is the most plausible in the context, I think.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +2he was already in on the game
Muriel Vasconcellos
4stranger, covert, clandestine
Mario Freitas
4a plant
Nick Taylor
4outsider
amarante dasilva
4he was butting in
airmailrpl
3he was already part of the system
Richard Purdom


Discussion entries: 12





  

Answers


1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
stranger, covert, clandestine


Explanation:
Per discussion.

Mario Freitas
Brazil
Local time: 10:39
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 8
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
a plant


Explanation:
a plant or even a snooper

Example sentence(s):
  • Is Rush Limbaugh a CIA plant?
Nick Taylor
Local time: 13:39
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 52
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3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
outsider


Explanation:
suggestion

amarante dasilva
Canada
Local time: 09:39
Native speaker of: Native in PortuguesePortuguese, Native in EnglishEnglish
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4 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +2
ele já era uma pessoa infiltrada
he was already in on the game


Explanation:
This is my interpretation. He's saying that his friend is able to study because he has access to schooling--has the time, knows the right connections to help him get into school. He's suggesting that it's a game that he's not part of. He's being a little sarcastic because afterwards he almost apologizes for his comment.

Muriel Vasconcellos
United States
Local time: 06:39
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 66
Grading comment
Many thanks Muriel. Your suggestion is the most plausible in the context, I think.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Renato Trettel: Acredito que a Muriel tem um bom ponto aqui. I believe that Muriel got a strong point here.
37 mins
  -> Thanks, Renato!

agree  Nick Taylor: Or even "already in the know" very UK idiomatic :-)
10 hrs
  -> Thanks, Nick!
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5 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
he was butting in


Explanation:
já era **uma pessoa infiltrada** => he was butting in

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 20 hrs (2014-09-18 13:32:54 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

he was 0bviously "butting in" on the conversation

airmailrpl
Brazil
Local time: 10:39
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in PortuguesePortuguese
PRO pts in category: 64
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20 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
he was already part of the system


Explanation:
suggestion... he wasn't an outsider to 'social success'

Richard Purdom
Portugal
Local time: 13:39
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 8
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