Tiquismos

My wonderful cousin Jamie Buckmaster sent me a fantastic map and a guide to Costa Rican Spanish in the mail! The best way to say thank you, I've heard, never uses those words — so suffice it to say that I have been looking all over for some kind of Costa Rican Spanish guide, and like magic I received one on the mail yesterday. Love you Jamie — this will be endlessly useful, and I will think of you every time I look something up in public and look like such a gringa.

Costa Ricans call themselves ticos (ticas for all my ladies), and accordingly their idioms are called "tiquismos." Here's a list of some of my favorites from the book:

achantarse- to be lazy and not feel like doing anything (certainly useful)
buena nota- a cool person (usually a good grade)
ser camote- to be weird (literally, to be a sweet potato)
¿Cómo está el arroz?- how are things? (literally, how is the rice?)
culo de tres nalgas- to be conceited (literally, to have three buttcheeks)
gato encerrado- more than meets the eye (literally, hidden cat)
jalarse una torta- to get pregnant, or err (literally, to pull the cake)
la madre- terrible (literally, the mother)
mamar- to do poorly on an exam (literally, to suck)
pelo de gato- a drizzle (literally, the hair of a cat)
pipa- a smart person, or a coconut (literally, a pipe)
ruco- horse, or pants (would this cause problems? give me my horse?)
yodo- coffee (literally, iodine)
zompopa- a big ant (very useful)

I love language! Although I'll probably wait to call someone a sweet potato until they've said it first.