Guide to Costa Rican Spanish

ajustar cuentas – to square accounts (revenge)
alborotar el panal – stir up trouble
armar la gorda- also to cause an uproar
armar un lío – cause an uproar
armar una bronca – cause an up roar
atizar la hoguera – make trouble
bochinche – a fight or quarrel
bochinchero – a fighter
el/la buscapleitos – someone who picks fights
buscar ruido al chicharrón – to look for problems
buscar tres pies al gato – to look for trouble
caer de gracia – to fall from grace
cagarse en la leche to screw up in Costa Rica (vulgar)
cavar su propia tubma – to dig your own grave (figurative)
chingar – to bother (vulgar). Also used widely in Mexico
dar una paliza or golpiza – to beat someone
dar un solo – to hit in Costa Rica
desmadre – caos
despelote – mess
despiche – confusion
estar en un apuro or aprieto – to be in jam or in trouble
estar en problemas – lso to be in trouble
gresca – quarrel
guardar rencor – to hold a grudge
hacer olas – make waves
hacer un escándalo – cause an uproar or ruckus
hacerle daño a alguien –to harm someone
hacerle la vida imposible a alguien – to make someone’s life miserable
jalarse una torta – to screw up or to impregnate (tiquismo)
joder – to bother (vulgar)
levantar espuma – means the same as the last three espressions
madrear also romperle la madre al alguien– to beat someone up
meterse en la camisa de once varas – get into trouble
meterse en problemas – get into trouble
pelarse el culo – to do something embarrassing or screw up
pelarsela – the same as the last expression
pelea campal –a free-for-all fight
pendenciero – a quarrelsome person
pichasear – to beat up or hit someon in Costa Rica (very vulgar)
problemón – big problem
rencillas – feud, grudge or quarrel
salir de Guatemala para entar en Guatepeor – to go from a bad situation to something even worse
tortero – someone who screws up (tiquismo)
zafarrancho – a quarrel or fight

Ser como las vacas… cagarse a la entrada y a la salida – to screw up (vulgar) cagarse en la gran puta (vulgar)