- Avioncito: A dragon fly. The correct word is libélula
- Chotear: To make fun of someone: Burlarse de is the correct Spanish verb.
- Chupaplatos: One’s index finger or dedo índice actually means index finger.
- Clete or bici: Bicycle or bike. The correct Spanish word is bicicleta.
- Cortarle el rabo a alguien: To fire someone from a job. Despedir is more correct.
- Cuadrar: To like. A José le cuadra la música. Joe likes music.
- El Monstruo: The nickname of Costa Rica’s Saprrisa soccer team.
- Estar con toda la pata: To be in good health
- Gato: A person with blue eyes.
- Techo or torre: Roof or someone’s head
- Guato: A dog. Zaguate, peludo and gua gua are also used for dog here.
- Tirarse al agua: To take the plunge (figurative)
- Tener a pura té de tilo: To be nervous. Estar nervioso is also used.
- Tener guaro vaquero: To be a mean drunken person
- ¡Zapatero a sus zapatos!: Get to work! ¡Manos a la obra! means the same.
Costa Rican expressions or tiquismos
- Agarrarle a alguien con las manos en la masa: To be caught red handed
- Ha pasado mucha agua debajo de ese molino: Water over the dam or bridge or something that is over and done with,
- Regarse las bilis: To get mad. Enojarse and ponerse bravo/a are more correct terms.
- Irse de jupa: To fall head first. Jupa means ‘head’ in Costa Rican slang. Irse de espaldas or irse de trasero is to fall backwards.