To be deeply stuck in a problem, debt, or complicated situation that's hard to escape. When the water is literally up to your neck and every move you make seems to sink you deeper.

To be experienced and street-smart enough not to get fooled in Mexico — wisdom earned through years of hard knocks. Life's hits give you colmillo, that healthy suspicion that protects you from scammers.

An American or foreign woman with Anglo-Saxon features: fair skin, blonde or brown hair. In Latin America, gringa can be descriptive or affectionate depending on tone.

A scared, cowardly person who doesn't dare to do things out of pure fear in Mexico. Being miado means your legs shake at any challenge and you'd rather stay behind while everyone else goes for it.