8 published definitions
A vulgar and derogatory term for police officers, including both the national police and traffic officers. It is used on the street to show disrespect to authority or as a warning when they are nearby (in Costa Rica, the Fuerza Publica refers to the national police force).
Watch out for what you are carrying because at that checkpoint the tombos are checking even the back seats.
Automatically translated from Spanish
A slang term for police officers or security guards. The word is an inversion of boton, a slang term for snitch or cop, through the use of vesre (a common linguistic practice in Argentina where the syllables of a word are reversed, turning bo-ton into tom-bo).
Hide the beers because there is a tombo on the corner giving us a dirty look.
Automatically translated from Spanish
A slang term for members of the National Police. Used informally, it often carries a derogatory tone or expresses a lack of trust in authority.
Heads up, hide that quick because here come the tombos in the squad car!
Automatically translated from Spanish
A slang term used to refer to a police officer or the police force (in Colombia, this term ranges from informal to derogatory depending on the context).
Watch out, the tombos just arrived and they are taking everyone to the station.
Automatically translated from Spanish
A derogatory or mocking term for a police officer, used to imply they are useless or unhelpful. (In Colombia, this is a very common slang word that reflects a general public distrust toward the police force).
Look at that tombo. - Hello, Officer.
Automatically translated from Spanish
A slang term for a police officer, created by reversing the syllables of the word boton (button). This refers to the shiny metallic buttons that once decorated police uniforms. It is used pejoratively to refer to the police in Colombia, Peru, and other parts of Latin America. The feminine form is tomba and the collective is tomberia. (Syllable reversal is a common feature of regional street slang).
The tombos are messing with us. Heads up, watch for the tomba or she will lock you up.
Automatically translated from Spanish
A slang term for police officers and military personnel. It is also used as a synonym for the government or authority figures perceived as untrustworthy (the term brujas, or witches, is a common Venezuelan slang equivalent used for police or snitches).
Run dude, the tombos are coming. What a pain with the tombos, they are right there.
Automatically translated from Spanish
A moron, jerk, or selfish person who is perpetually late (in Peru, this term is most frequently used to refer to a police officer).
selfish tombo
Automatically translated from Spanish
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