Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Portuguese term or phrase:
pessoa infiltrada
English translation:
he was already in the know
Added to glossary by
lexical
Sep 17, 2014 17:09
9 yrs ago
Portuguese term
pessoa infiltrada
Portuguese to English
Other
Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
general conversation
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.
"...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.
Proposed translations
(English)
Proposed translations
+2
4 hrs
Portuguese term (edited):
ele já era uma pessoa infiltrada
Selected
he was already in on the game
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.
Peer comment(s):
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!
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Many thanks Muriel. Your suggestion is the most plausible in the context, I think."
1 hr
stranger, covert, clandestine
Per discussion.
1 hr
a plant
a plant or even a snooper
Example sentence:
Is Rush Limbaugh a CIA plant?
3 hrs
outsider
suggestion
5 hrs
he was butting in
já era **uma pessoa infiltrada** => he was butting in
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Note added at 20 hrs (2014-09-18 13:32:54 GMT)
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he was 0bviously "butting in" on the conversation
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Note added at 20 hrs (2014-09-18 13:32:54 GMT)
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he was 0bviously "butting in" on the conversation
20 hrs
he was already part of the system
suggestion... he wasn't an outsider to 'social success'
Discussion
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walk-in
http://www.crystalinks.com/walk_ins.html
http://www.dicio.com.br/filtrar/
filtrar
v.t. Fazer passar um líquido através de um filtro. / Fig. Submeter a um controle: filtrar idéias. / Persuadir pouco a pouco, introduzir lentamente alguma coisa no espírito de alguém. / Insinuar-se, passar sub-repticiamente: deixar filtrar uma notícia. — V.i. Penetrar: a água filtra através das terras.