A prueba de bomba – bomb-proof
Bomba – a bomb (explosive)
Bomba – a pump
Bomba – a soap bubble
Bomba – a mixture or whisky and rum
Bomba – a gas station in Costa Rica. Gasolinera or estación de servicio are the correct words.
Bomba
Costa Rican slang for english speakers
Besar – usually means to kiss. It is also used when two vehicles meet head-on in a crash.
Brincar en una pata – to be happy. Brincar de alegría is also used.
Colmillo – literally means a fang, but it is used in Costa Rica to describe someone who is astute or smart.
Devolver los peluches
All thumbs
Como para chuparse los dedos – finger licking good
Cruzar los dedos – to cross one’s fingers
Dar un dedo de la mano por – to give one’s right arm for
Darle el dedo y se toma hasta el codo – give him an inch and he’ll take a mile
Dedo – finger or toe
Local Slang
Estar full – to be full
Estar puras tejas – another way of saying pura vida or tuanis
El finde – short for weekend or fin de semana
Hacerse punta – to get a haircut
Irse de shopping – to go shopping. The correct way is to say ir de compras
Amusing Criminal Nicknames
In the Spanish culture many people have nicknames (apodos or sobrenombres). It is interesting to note that in the Costa Rican underworld (el bajo mundo or el hampa) criminals are given funny nicknames.
Here are some of them that I gleaned from the local newspapers.
Bin Laden – This guy must be a real gem to be nicknamed after a terrorist.
