gauchada
Doing someone a favor or a helpful act (derived from the figure of the gaucho, an Argentine cowboy traditionally associated with generosity).
Can you do me the gauchada of giving me a ride home?
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Tag: favor
Definitions tagged favor in the street dictionary.
ArgentinaPalanquear
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.
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Panamágauchada
A favor or a solid done for someone (a term derived from the noble and helpful reputation attributed to the gaucho).
Do me the gauchada of passing me my phone.
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BoliviaDando y dando
An expression used to emphasize a fair and simultaneous exchange, where both parties hand over their part at the same time. (In Panama, 'fren' is a common slang term for a friend).
A: 'Buddy, did you bring me what I asked for?' B: 'Sure, but hand over the money first. Dando y dando, you know?'
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Prestamista
A moneylender who charges interest. (In Panama, this term often implies an informal lender or loan shark operating outside the legal banking system).
My dad was a prestamista, but that job was very dangerous: I am going to have to go to a prestamista because the bank will not cough up anything.
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Vamos a darle cuero
To fully commit to a mission or task. To go all in and give 100 percent effort to achieve a goal.
A: So, are you coming with me to buy the engagement ring for Juliana? B: Vamos a darle cuero, of course I am.
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Lif
Derived from the English word leave, used to ask for a ride or a lift to a destination. (Panamanian slang frequently features phonetic adaptations of English terms due to the historical US presence in the Canal Zone).
A: Well, I am heading out, friend, I have to go downtown. B: Are you going downtown? Hey, give me a Lif, man.
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mangazo
A request or the act of hitting someone up for a favor, typically involving money.
Hey, I have to hit you up for a mangazo. Do you have 100 pesos to lend me? I will give them back on Tuesday.
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sobaculo
A vulgar and more aggressive term for a kiss-ass or a brown-noser.
That guy is the director's stooge. A real sobaculo through and through.
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Hazme el paro
To do someone a solid, help them out, or cover for them regarding a task or situation.
Hazme el paro at the office so I can go out to eat: I will do the Hazme el paro for you, but bring me a soda.
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Méxicohacer la gamba
To help someone out, do a favor, or back someone up (the term gamba refers to a leg in the local slang, meaning you are providing support to the other person).
- Haceme la gamba and let's take these boxes to the storage room.
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manito
Used to describe providing a helping hand or assistance that is often shady, unfair, or lacks transparency.
They won the match with a manito from the referee.
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PerúManda
A casual way to say pass me or hand me something, typically used among friends or young people when asking for an object.
Manda a pencil, Jorge, I lost mine | Manda a beer, man.
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No Fitin
A phrase used to signal that someone is not willing to share what they are eating or to tell others not to ask for a bite. It is common among children and teenagers.
A: Javier, can I have some? B: No fitin
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Bote
A lift or a ride. The act of driving someone to a destination as a favor.
"Dad, can you give me a bote to the mall?" | "Julio, are you leaving already? Can you give me a bote?"
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Que deseas mi reina
A phrase used by service workers or street vendors when offering help to a customer. It uses terms of endearment to sound friendly or persuasive. While Que deseas mi reina is used for women, men are addressed as mi rey (my king), though it is less common for women to use the latter when serving men. Variations like mi princesa or mi príncipe are also used. (In Venezuela, it is culturally normal for shopkeepers to use these affectionate titles to build rapport with strangers.)
Que deseas mi reina today? / Tell me mi rey, what would you like?
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VenezuelaDar la cola
To give someone a ride or a lift to a destination. (In Venezuela, this is the standard expression used to ask for a lift or to carpool.)
Can you dar la cola to my house? I do not know if I should ask Jose for a dar la cola to the mall.
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Segunda
To do someone a favor or back them up. It often refers to helping someone accomplish a task or acting as a wingman in a social situation.
"Do me the Segunda with the paperwork" or "Will you do me the Segunda with your cousin?"
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palanca
A person with connections who does you a favor or helps you navigate red tape and bureaucracy.
"I found a palanca at the bank" and "I do not know where to find a palanca for my paperwork"
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Cola
A free ride or lift to a destination, or the butt end of a cigarette. (In Venezuela, this is the standard informal way to ask for a ride).
Leave me the Cola of the cigarette. / Please, give me the Cola to my house.
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gauchada
A favor or a selfless act of kindness performed to help someone out, especially when it is not part of one's duties or when it speeds up a task. (The term comes from the Gauchos, the cattle herders of the southern tip of the continent, who are famous for their spirit of solidarity and hospitality).
A secretary agrees to a delivery man's request and accepts letters for the office next door, so the young man says thanks for the gauchada. A bricklayer asks his coworker for the gauchada of lending him a hammer for a moment; the coworker agrees even though he is using it at the time and does other tasks while he waits.
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Chilegauchada
A favor or a solid, often one done out of kindness to help someone out of a bind (the term comes from the gaucho, the traditional cowboy of the South American plains known for his helpfulness).
Please do me a gauchada, I do not have time.
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Globalgavela
Any type of head start or advantage granted to an opponent in a race or competition.
Listen, you can start six seconds before me, I am giving you gavela so you do not say I am taking advantage of you later.
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República DominicanaMandao
An errand or a task assigned to someone, usually a subordinate or a child (this is a colloquial contraction of the word mandado).
Go run a mandao for me at the corner store (a colmado is a neighborhood grocery store that is central to Dominican social life).
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