Atravesar el caballo: To change the subject in the middle of a conversation.
Cartucho: This word actually means a cartridge but in this case it is slang for the city of Cartago.
Chema: Is slang for a shirt
Con el moco caído: To be sad
Con toda la pata: Perfect or great.
Cuero: A woman with a bad reputation. Cuero actually means leather.
Dar en el clavo: To hit the nail on the head (figuratively)
Doña: Wife or girlfriend
Echar el cuento: To persuade or to seduce a woman. Echar el caballo or Echar el ruco also means to seduce.
Lucas: Crazy. Loco/a is the correct term for crazy.
Mala nota: A bad situation or person
Mentarle la madre: To call someone an S.O.B.
Pajoso/a: a person who is all talk.
Polo/a or maicero/a: Is a country person or hick (offensive)
Quedarse como en misa: To be very quiet like during a religious service.
Rulear o Echarse un rol: Means to sleep. Dormir is to sleep in proper Spanish.
Yodo: Actually means iodine but in Costa Rica is slang for coffee. Echase un yodazo is drink coffee.
¡Toque!: Hurry up! ¡Apuráte! Is also used.
Tiquismos or Costa Rican expressions of the week:
- Buscar el sol que más calienta: To look for a better option or situation
- Despedirse a la francesa: To leave without having the courtesy to say good-by to someone.
- ¿Cómo está el arroz?: How are things going? ¿Cómo está la cosa? Is also used.
- No quitar el dedo del renglón: To stick to our guns, persist in our efforts or to not budge an inch.
