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Bandera de México

/Sounds like 'ah-boo-SAH-doh'/

Sharp, alert, and quick to catch on — someone who stays on their toes and doesn't let things slide past them. In Mexico 'abusado' is also used as a warning: stay sharp, keep your eyes open. The streets reward the abusado and eat the clueless alive.

Example

"Hay que estar abusado en esa colonia, hay muchos rateros. → "You have to stay sharp in that neighborhood — there are lots of thieves."

"Ese chavo es muy abusado, aprende todo rapidísimo. → "That kid is really quick — he picks up everything super fast."

Word family
Regional synonyms:

Trabarse al hablar, no poder articular bien las palabras por pena, nervios o sorpresa en México. Es esa sensación de que la lengua se te enreda, las palabras no salen y terminas diciendo puras incoherencias.