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/Sounds like "kah" (as in "car") + "LAHR" (as in "lava")/

Meaning

In Latin American street slang, to quietly investigate someone, to observe and assess before making any move. Also means to figure out someone's true intentions without them realizing.

Examples

I calé that dude before bringing him into the crew.

She calés everyone before trusting them, she doesn't play around.

Regional synonyms
Bandera de Colombia
Chivear

A mythological creature from Paraguayan Guarani folklore: a blond child who appears at siesta time and kidnaps kids who refuse to sleep. One of the most well-known legends in rural Paraguay.