The act of giving money to a police officer or public official to overlook a violation or speed up paperwork (used as an indirect or polite way to offer a bribe).
To pull strings or use one's influence and connections to help someone get a favor or a job. (The term refers to using a lever, or palanca, as social leverage).
I am just waiting for my cousin to palanquear for me to get into that company.
A cut, kickback, or bribe that someone receives from a corrupt deal. Politicians, journalists, judges, police, and sports executives are among those often involved in a mordida.
For the deal to go through, we have to give the police their mordida.
1. A bus driver's assistant who handles fares and alerts the driver to stops (typically seen on Panama's traditional buses). 2. A person with influence or pull who uses their position to grant a favor or help someone out.
1. Tell the palanca to tell the driver to drop us off at the next stop. 2. Buddy, I need a palanca in the Ministry to help me get a job.
To swipe or steal something, take someone else's property without asking, or simply not return a borrowed item. (In Panama, this specific usage refers to petty theft or pocketing something, whereas in other countries it usually means to negotiate or make a deal).
My brother is always transar the money from my piggy bank. | They lent him a book and he never returned it, I think he wanted to transar it from the very start.
Refers to a person strategically placed in a job or position by a figure of power. (Often refers to political pawns or cronies installed to serve someone else's interests).
That guy is a ficha for the party. Everyone here knows the government is full of fichas.
Modern Revolutionary Party, a major Dominican political party founded in 2014 after a split from the PRD. Though it was created to reform the political system, it is often criticized for repeating the same internal power struggles and local bossism, or caciquismo, that defined older parties. The party is characterized by its intense and constant opposition to the PLD party.
PRM equals PPH (PPH refers to the political faction loyal to former president Hipolito Mejia).
A person who gets a government job through political favors or patronage, typically collecting a salary without actually working. (In Panama, this refers to ghost employees placed on the public payroll as a reward for political support).
'Everyone knows that woman is a government Botella' ; 'The minister fired a lot of people just to hire his own Botellas.'
A private school known for being strict in all the wrong ways. It has poor management and constant teacher turnover. The current principal, in her first year, does not know how to interact with students and is generally disliked. The school cares more about recruiting new students and impressing parents than treating long-term students with respect. There are no school activities or fun things to do. They demand a lot but give back little: if you are looking for the honor roll or a 90 plus average, you will not get it, as currently no one in high school has. The cafeteria is a rip-off, charging 70 pesos for a tiny empanada. The only good thing is the literature teacher, who is probably among the best in the country. (A specific private school in the Dominican Republic).
A contraction of nothing is nothing. It describes a situation where rules, morals, or ethics are ignored and anything goes, implying that standards do not matter or can be bypassed.
The car is missing the fire extinguisher and has a burnt-out light, but na e na, hand me a five-hundred bill and I will give you the permit.
An intersection in Santo Domingo that is the spitting image of the Dominican way of life: chaos, disorder, anarchy, noise, corruption, and a lack of civic duty. (This is a major commercial area in the capital known for extreme congestion and informal street vendors).
Duarte con París is the symbol of the Dominican character.
The Dominican Revolutionary Party. Founded in 1939, it first took power in 1962 but was ousted by a coup, triggering the 1965 civil war. Since founder Juan Bosch (a prominent intellectual and politician) left in disgust, the party has devolved from a democratic movement into a collection of factions chasing private interests. Members are stereotyped as ignorant, incompetent, and power-hungry populists who mimic the speaking style of historical figures like Jose Francisco Pena Gomez. They offer fierce, arbitrary opposition when out of power, but once in office, they practice the same things they criticized, often saying 'power is meant to be used' or 'it is better to be on top under pressure than at the bottom in a depression.'
To skim some extra cash or collect kickbacks, usually through corrupt practices in a public or private institution. (The term comes from the word for crumb, implying picking up small pieces of illicit profit).
I promise that if I win the elections, I will let everyone in my party boronear!
1. In Mexico, a slang term for committing fraud, swindling, or a police officer extorting a bribe. 2. In Argentina, to hook up or have sex. (Avenida Corrientes is a major street in Buenos Aires famous for its nightlife and theaters).
1. That cop transó me. 2. Yesterday I transé with a prostitute from Corrientes.
A government shill or a public employee who backs the ruling party just because they are on the state payroll. In highly partisan contexts, it is also used as an insult for anyone who stays neutral rather than criticizing the authorities. (In the Dominican Republic, the term literally translates to check-eater, implying their loyalty is bought with government money).
Look at that comecheques, he is going to work instead of joining the protest.
Acronym for the Dominican Institute of Civil Aviation. It is mockingly categorized as an OCAS (Office for Complicating Simple Matters). While its role is to regulate and grow the local aviation sector, it is criticized for being bloated, employing 2,000 people to regulate only 1,000, and for favoring foreign airlines over domestic ones. Historically, its directors have been political appointees (lawyers, dentists, etc.) rather than aviation experts, a result of the country's long-standing system of political patronage.
I intend to start a Dominican flagship airline for international wide-body flights, but the IDAC is making it impossible for me. Military pilots are taking jobs from those who paid for their own flight training because the IDAC grants civilian licenses to the military.
A state of systemic corruption where everyone is snatching whatever they can. Since everyone is involved in the looting, nobody has the moral authority to point fingers at others. It is similar to a chaotic free-for-all (the term comes from the verb coger, meaning to grab or take).
An insulting backronym for the PRSC political party, changing the meaning of the initials to Gang of Robbery, Looting, and Corruption instead of its official name, the Social Christian Reformist Party (the party was led for decades by the authoritarian president Joaquín Balaguer).
"The Constitution is just a piece of paper." "If Balaguer does not rule, let his portrait rule."
A derogatory backronym for the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD), standing for Gang of Dominican Thieves. (The PLD is a major political party in the Dominican Republic, and this play on words is used by critics to accuse the party of systemic corruption.)
There is no food but there is a metro. It is better to pay than to kill.
A derogatory term for police officers in the Dominican Republic, used to mock them for being overweight and for the unattractive color of their uniforms (The traditional Dominican National Police uniform is a dull gray-green color often mocked by locals).
If a group of street-smart guys is hanging out on the corner, one of them yells, Here come the puercos, and everyone bolts.
The crime of breach of duty or malfeasance where judges, authorities, or public officials knowingly rule against the law in legal cases, or make arbitrary and nepotistic decisions in public contracts and resolutions.
The judge, without evidence and without taking into account the arguments of the opposing party, accepted the lawsuit of Company A, belonging to a high-profile and popular businessman, against B, a regional company.