Dictionary of Argentine Expressions
|
Dictionary of Argentine Expressions
|
|
A babucha: Way of carrying a child seated on another
person’s shoulders
A cococho: Way of carrying a child seated on another person’s shoulders A gamba: On foot A la bartola: Carelessly, nonchalantly A la marchanta: Carelessly, nonchalantly A la plancha: Way in which to cook a steak (or beef in general). It is a sort of pan with grooves where grease drops as it is being cooked. See "bife" A lo mejor: Maybe A los pedos: Fast, recklessly. Vulgar expression A los piques: Fast, recklessly. Somewhat more elegant than "a los pedos" A los tumbos: To move (figuratively or really) aimlessly A mano: See "mano" A mil: Very fast A pata: On foot Abatatarse: Be paralysed out of fear or shyness Abombado: Fool Abrir el paraguas (antes de que llueva): Get ready or justify oneself before a negative result takes place (Literally: "to open the umbrella before it rains") Abrochar: 1) Fasten two things in order to join them (e.g.: a button to the buttonhole). Figuratively, it means to make someone appear as sole responsible for a problem Acabar: To come. To have an orgasm Achacar: Steal Achicarse: Chicken out. Not to make enough effort to achieve something. Achuras: Edible insides of the cow, but which are not considered beef, as they are part of their digestive system. See "mollejas" or "chinchulines". Achurar: To murder Acomodado: Recommended to occupy a position Acomodo: Procedure by which someone with power appoints someone (who probably did not deserve it) for a position Acostar a alguien: Harm or deceive someone Adornado: Bribed Afanar: Steal. Slang expression Afiche: Poster in the street Afilar: Woo. (rarely used nowadays) Agachada: Disloyalty, baseness Agarrar: 1) Take, take hold of; 2) Take a certain direction Agrandado: 1) Haughty; 2) Self assured Aguantadero: Criminals' temporary lodgings and hiding place for criminals Aguantar: 1) Bear with; 2) Wait ¡Aguante ...........!: Exclamation for supporting some sports idol or team Al bulto: (to shoot) without aiming carefully Al hilo: Non stop Al mango: With maximum strength, to the maximum of possibilities Al ñudo: In vain Al palo: Erect male sexual organ. Figuratively, it means to have a lot of energy Al pedo: In vain. It also means to do nothing useful. Vulgar expression Al pelo: Perfectly well Al pepe: In vain. A little more educated than "al pedo" Al taco: ("taco" = heel) At high speed (literally, to press down the accelerator to the maximum) Al toque: Youth slang, meaning "easily", "right away" Al tun-tun: Headed for anywhere, with no direction Al vesre: Slang way of speaking "backwards". The syllable order is inverted in each word. E.g.: jetra (traje: suit), bolonqui (quilombo), nami (mina: woman), fercho (chofer: driver), yobaca (caballo: horse), etc. Albañil: Bricklayer Alcahuete: Informer, servile, flatterer Alfajor: Sweet pastry, consisting of two thin round slices joined by jam or toffee, and with some sort of coating (chocolate, powdered sugar, etc.) Almacén: Grocers’. Threatened with extinction due to the supermarkets Alpargatas: Countryside typical shoes. The sole is made of jute, and the top part, of canvas. Alquilar: Hire, rent Alzado: 1) Sexually aroused; 2) Raised, hoisted, hauled up Amague: Intention of doing something, without carrying out. Feint, attempt. Much used in soccer and politics. Amarrete: Mean, stingy Amarrocar: Hoard, keep for oneself Amasijar: Murder, punish Amigovio / amigovia: Person with the duties of a friend, and the rights of a fiancée / fiancé Amueblado: Motel per hour for couples Amurar: 1) Desert someone; 2) Imprison, steal; 3) In construction: to firmly fix or attach something (generally, to a wall) Ananá: Pineapple Ancho: Ace of spades and ace of clubs in the "truco" game, played with Spanish cards. They are the two most important cards in the game Andar seco: To have no money Angel: Charisma Aparato: Nerd Apiolarse: Realize Apodo: Nickname Apolillar: Sleep Apretar: 1) Threaten someone (e.g., the police a prisoner, for him to confess); 2) Kiss passionately ¡Araca!: ¡Watch out! Arbolito: Street or clandestine salesman of dollars Arco: Soccer goal line Argolla: Vagina. Vulgar expression Arquero: Soccer team goalkeeper Arreglar: 1) Repair something; 2) Prior to some competition, bribe a participant or the referee Arrugar: Not to make enough effort, or not gather enough valor to achieve something Arveja: pea Asado: Barbecue. Grilled beef (See "parrilla") Ascensor: Elevator, lift Asfalto: Experience (literally, "asphalt"). (From "tener calle" ~ have – street ~, asphalt being its main component) Atar con alambre: (Literally, to be tied with wire) Argentine philosophy for the repair of objects: to more or less fix it in a provisional manner, which then becomes permanent Atorrante: Tramp, vagabond, vagrant, bum. The origins of this word, at the beginning of the XX century, are the make of water pipes which were to be used for Buenos Aires sewers, and which lay in the streets for a long time before their installation (as per Argentina’s "speed" in completing public works). The French supplier of these pipes was "A. Torrant". Homeless people started using those pipes as night "lodgings", so they were known as "atorrantes". (Word is related to "atorrar" – see below – later shortened to "torrar"). Atorrar: Sleep Auto: Car Autobombo: Boast, "advertise" oneself effectively Avivar giles: Unwillingly reveal one’s strategy to one’s rivals Avivarse: Realize Inicio | Diccionario | Ejemplos | Particularidades | Apodos | Frases célebres | Futbolísticos | Chistes |