2. 1. The ´Paila´ Neck Cut
´Bummer´,
´dammit´, ´paila´
and its accompanying
neck cut is a fast and
polite way in Colombia
of saying that a
situation ain´t good.
3. 2. The ´Está tetiado´ Fingers
This might be used
during arguments in
Argentina, but in
Colombia it means
´it´s packed´.
4. 3. The Mucha Gueva Face
Cupping your hands
like your holding an
invisible ball and
slightly shaking them
beneath your chin
while making a stupid
face is a common way
in Colombia of calling
someone a
´dumbass´ or
´egghead´.
5. 4. The ´Montada´ Scissor Fingers
If someone is always on
your back, bullying and
teasing you, in Colombia
you could describe the
situation by putting your
index and middle finger on
either side of your wrist and
saying ´Me la tiene
montada´.
6. 5. The ´Tacaño´ Elbow Slap
In Colombia and
other Latin American
countries, slapping
ones elbow is a way
of calling somebody
´stingy´ or a
´tight ass´.
7. 6. The ´Ladron´ Cheek Scratch
If a Colombian makes
eye contact with you
while caressing their
fingers softly down their
cheek, they are telling
you that there´s
a
thief in your midst.
8. 7. The ´Grave´ Floppy Palm
When Colombians shake
their limp hand kind of like
a ghetto finger whip, it
means ´this is
serious´ or
´trouble´s coming´.
Don´t forget the all
important teeth bearing.
9. 8. The Lip Point
When a Colombian
slightly raises their
chin, opens up their eyes
and pouts their lips, no
they are not blowing you
a kiss. They are in fact
pointing to
something, as anyone
else would with their index
finger. Weird? It´s actually
surprisingly practical.