Definitions tagged policia in the street dictionary.
An area where the police deliberately stop patrolling or responding to calls, implying they are complicit in the crimes occurring there. (In Argentina, this often suggests a bribe was paid to ensure no officers would be present while a crime took place).
I called the police three times and they never showed up. This neighborhood is a zona liberada, forget it...
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The cops, the fuzz. (A term used for the police force or an individual officer).
I got robbed and the Cañá took 2 hours to get here.
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A person who is overly controlling, acting like an authority figure or a security guard to monitor others. (In Argentina, the term is also common slang for a police officer or a snitch).
My dad gets all vigilante and won't let me come home late.
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A slang term used to refer to the police or law enforcement (stemming from the Rastafarian concept of an oppressive system).
Hey, put out that weed, the babylon is coming.
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A slang term for a police officer, typically used by older people.
That jachu gave me a ticket for parking in the wrong spot.
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A slang term used to refer to the police detention center or holding cells located on Pando Street in the city of La Paz (this street is the site of a well known precinct where people are often taken for public order offenses).
I spent the night in la Pando for starting a fight at the bar.
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To be picked up or hauled away by the police to a detention center for illegal activity.
I do not want to do drugs in the plaza anymore because the cops might cargar me.
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A police car or squad car.
A: "That neighborhood is very dangerous, that is why there are always patrullas making the rounds" B: "Thank goodness, you feel safer with the patrulla around"
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A slang term for police officers, equivalent to the English word cops.
Ditch the bottle of wine, the polis are coming.
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A traffic cop (named for the small wand or baton used to direct vehicles).
The VARITA is working right under the traffic light and giving conflicting orders.
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A slang term for a cop or police officer (this is the standard informal, often derogatory way to refer to members of the police force in Bolivia).
The paco gave me a ticket last night for speeding.
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An inmate or prisoner who is locked up or serving a sentence.
A: They decided to suspend visits to the reos after finding knives hidden in the clothes of some family members. B: Good for them. People have no shame.
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A term used to address high ranking police officers (a custom lingering from the military dictatorship era).
A: 'Hey, comando, take it easy on me, man. Look, I was not going that fast, let the ticket slide this time.' B: 'Sir, you were going 90 in a 60 zone...'
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A synonym for a fine. It is the most common term used to refer to a traffic ticket or citation.
A: They gave me a Boleta for driving without a seatbelt. B: And why were you driving without a seatbelt? Irresponsible!
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Used to describe the person in authority in a specific setting, the leader, the boss, or the one who makes the decisions and has the money. (While the word literally means the law, in this context it refers to anyone in charge of a group).
La ley is here, run man. / Get to work fast because La ley just arrived.
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A slang term for jail or prison. Putting someone in the Olla means locking them up or sending them to the slammer. (The word literally means pot).
A: So how long has it been since you saw your dad? B: Man, about 2 years now. They threw him in the Olla because he was driving drunk and ran over some guy.
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A slang term for jail or prison, similar to the slammer or the joint.
A: Did you hear they took Jaime to the chirola? B: Yeah, dude, for smuggling TVs.
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A surprise police raid or sweep carried out to catch wanted criminals or groups of suspects. (Often involves officers cordoning off a neighborhood to check IDs or perform searches.)
A: 'Man, what happened last night?' B: 'Oh, that was like a batida, I think.'
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A slang term for the police, used as a variation of the word cana (cops).
We were in the car, making out with my girlfriend, and suddenly the canasta showed up.
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A derogatory slang term used to refer to police officers in Venezuela.
That cerdo is going to pay for this. / Damned cerdo, stop shooting already.
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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.
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A Venezuelan slang term for police officers and military personnel (likely referring to the brown or olive-green color of their uniforms). While usage varies by region, it is synonymous with other slang for authority figures such as brujas, gobierno, or tíos.
These shitty tamarindos won't stop shaking people down. / The tamarindos are patrolling the plaza.
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A slang term for police officers, referring to the blue color of their uniforms (historically associated with the Metropolitan Police).
El agua is posted up on the corner. / We have to bail because el agua just arrived.
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This is a slang term for a police officer in Venezuela, often used for undercover cops or those acting as informants.
That guy over there is a sapo, watch what you say. / Watch out for that sapo, he is not in uniform, but I have seen him before.
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A slang term for the police (in Venezuela, law enforcement is commonly referred to as el gobierno, meaning the government).
Here come the Brujas, stay alert. Heads up with the Brujas because they don't let anyone slide. The government is on the corner, let's not go that way.
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A derogatory nickname used in Venezuela for police officers who wear blue uniforms, implying they are inferior or incompetent (the word literally means Smurfs).
Those pitufos are such idiots. / Those pitufos are trash, look at what they are doing.
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A derogatory term used to refer to the police in Venezuela. It is synonymous with other local slang terms like brujas (witches), gobierno (the government), or tíos (uncles).
Watch out, the bastardos cleared out but we have to stay alert. / The bastardos fired birdshot.
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Slang for the police. It is synonymous with brujas (witches), a term for cops or snitches. Specific nicknames for the police vary by region.
Hide, dude, here come the Tíos. / The Tíos are scammers, do not let them screw you over.
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A slang term for a security guard or police officer. It is also used to mean a snitch or a rat (in Argentina, the word vigilante and its variants refer to both law enforcement and people who report others to authority).
The other day this vigi went and told the boss everything.
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A bribe or payoff, usually given to a police officer or security official to avoid a fine or legal trouble.
The cop asked me for a coima so he wouldn't give me a ticket. | Traffic police always ask for a coima when they pull you over after midnight.
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A member of the police or military forces. (In Peru, this term is frequently used to refer to an individual officer rather than just the collective force.)
I ran the red light and a police efectivo pulled me over.
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A slang term for the police (commonly used in Argentina to refer to the police force).
The Cañá showed up and raided the whole house.
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A slang term used by the working class to refer to the police, referencing their uniform caps.
You have the mark of the gorra on you.
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A derogatory term for a police officer or security guard. It is also used to describe a snitch or someone who gossips about others' private matters. (The term originates from the metallic buttons on old police uniforms).
Man, you are such a botón, going around telling everyone in the neighborhood things about my mom.
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A derogatory slang term for a police officer or the police force (it is an example of vesre, a local linguistic practice where syllables are reversed).
Watch out, here comes a cobani.
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A slang term used in Madrid for police officers or state agents. The word literally means chili pepper, and it is said the name was coined by someone who had a special fondness for the officers' uniforms (traditionally referring to the red trim on old municipal uniforms).
If the neighbor keeps shouting, I am calling the guindillas.
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A vulgar or derogatory term for a police officer.
I do not like my sister going out with a Tongo. That Tongo is corrupt.
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A police vehicle or the police force in general.
Watch out, here comes the chota. / Turn down the music, the neighbor is going to call the chota.
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A shipment or large bundle of drugs, typically cocaine.
The police seized a paka | They caught him with a paka while he was trying to cross the border.
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An exclamation used by street thugs to warn that the police are nearby. (Malandro is a common Venezuelan term for a street criminal or hoodlum).
Homies, AGUAS! Run, AGUAS!
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A trafico is a traffic cop or a transit police officer. (In the Dominican Republic, these officers are known for manually directing vehicle flow at busy intersections).
Thanks to the trafico we got back from the trip early.
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A secret police officer or a civilian informant who snitches to the authorities. (The term historically refers to the secret police during the Trujillo dictatorship.)
His brother is a Calie'.
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A nightstick, baton, or truncheon carried by police officers. (In Venezuela, this is the standard term for this piece of equipment).
The cop has a rolo. Where did you get that rolo?
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A beat-up, dilapidated truck used by the metropolitan police (referring to the former law enforcement agency in Caracas that used these aging transport vehicles).
The Perolon is on its last legs. / There they come in the Perolon.
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A slang term for a police officer or security guard.
Here come the pacos. I do not see any paco.
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A municipal or city police officer (the name refers to the white helmets traditionally worn by local law enforcement in Venezuela).
There is a Casco blanco over there. This is a safe area, there are many Casco blancos around.
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A Peruvian police officer; a cop. (In Peru, this is a common informal term for members of the police force).
There are a lot of cachacos at the police station.
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A beast or animal, used to mock traffic police who are perceived as rude or as experts at creating gridlock instead of fixing it (AMET was the former name of the metropolitan transport authority in the Dominican Republic).
The AMET cops are total animals.
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