Borrón y cuenta nueva

Literally 'pull judgment.' A parting admonition, often affectionate rather than scolding. Said by older people to younger ones, or by anyone sending someone off on a journey. The tone is caring rather than authoritarian.

A euphemistic but clearly understood phrase. 'Mala vida' literally means 'bad life', and the expression functions as a socially coded reference to prostitution without naming it directly. Used in contexts where bluntness is avoided but the meaning is fully transparent to all speakers.

Augmentative of 'partido' (a match or eligible person). Used almost exclusively in the context of romantic or social eligibility. Calling someone a 'partidazo' signals they are highly desirable from a social, economic, or personal standpoint. The augmentative suffix intensifies the approval.

Literally 'sense of smell'. In business and professional contexts it is used metaphorically to describe an innate ability to detect opportunities or dangers before they become obvious. Not exclusively Colombian, but very natural and frequent in Colombian business speech.

Short for 'témpano de hielo' (block of ice). Used figuratively to describe someone who is emotionally distant, unresponsive, or cold in social and romantic situations. It carries a note of mild mockery or exasperation about someone's inability to warm up to others.

An impersonal use of 'tocar' meaning 'to be necessary' or 'to have no choice'. Unlike the standard construction 'hay que', 'toca' is strongly associated with Colombian colloquial speech. It can stand alone as a sentence ('toca') meaning 'there's no other option' or precede an infinitive. Frequently heard across social classes in informal settings.

A mild interjection expressing surprise, admiration, or mild irritation. Functions as a socially acceptable substitute for stronger expletives. Used across age groups and settings where profanity would be inappropriate. The tone is entirely determined by context, it can express both positive astonishment and negative frustration.