to have everything in place for something to happen
tener el cuerpo cortao
to not be feeling well, generally from fatigue and lack of energy
tener el moño virao
a psychological imbalance from a short period, usually with mood changes and aggressive behavior
tener en el refrigerador
refers to a santería ritual of putting an enemy’s name written on a piece of paper into the refrigerator, to neutralize their effect on you
tener guayabitos en la azotea
to go crazy
tener hasta el ultimo pelo
the straw that broke the camel’s back, to be fed up with the last thing from a series of negatives
tener los huesos en candela
intense muscular pain, generally from old age
tener matraquilla
to be obsessed
tener quisquilla
to be obsessed
singao
a son-of-a-bitch
singar
to fuck
solar
an old, antique home, generally for rich families, taken over by poor people, converted to slums
tambullero
a fat person who eats like a pig
tanque
the tank, referring to prison
temba
a mature person
templar
to fuck
ser un echao p’alante
brave, courageous
ser un loco a la mata de coco
to be someone that likes women’s’ boobs
ser un tipejo
low class, ghetto
ser una mente
to be educated, well-read, studious
ser una polilla
to be educated, well-read, studious
sereno
watchman
si no es Juana, es su hermana
if it’s not one thing, it’s another
simbombazo
to go over badly, to be received poorly
seguir durmiendo de ese lado
phrase to tell someone to try something new, to react differently than before
seguroso
an informant who works for the MININT, the Cuban State Security Ministry, hated by the Cuban population
ser candela
an active and naughty person
ser como el arroz blanco
to be everywhere at once
ser de ampanga
to be controversial, trouble
ser tu maletín
that’s your problem