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Bandera de Argentina
Bandera de México
Bandera de Chile

/Sounds like "RAH" (as in "rah") + "tah" (as in "taco")/

A petty thief or small-time criminal who steals on the streets. Unlike 'rata' meaning stingy person, this one refers to someone who actually robs people and snatches belongings.

Example

"A thief stole my phone on the subway."

"This neighborhood is full of petty thieves at night."

Word family
Regional synonyms:
Bandera de Argentina
Bandera de Colombia
Bandera de México

/Sounds like "RAH" (as in "rah") + "tah" (as in "taco")/

A person who snitches, betrays, or sells out their friends at the first opportunity. The rata is the group's snitch — the one who spills secrets, passes info, and stabs you in the back without remorse.

Example

"He was the rata of the group, told the teacher everything."

"Don't trust him, he's a rata who talks too much."

Word family
Regional synonyms:
Bandera de Argentina
Bandera de México
Bandera de Chile
Rata
Bandera de Argentina
Bandera de Chile
Bandera de Colombia
Bandera de España
Bandera de México
Bandera de Perú
Bandera de Venezuela

/Sounds like "RAH" (as in "rah") + "tah" (as in "taco")/

A cheap, stingy person who refuses to spend money on absolutely anything under any circumstance. The one who always goes to the bathroom when the check arrives, forgot their wallet, or asks to split the bill to the exact cent.

Example

"Don't be a rata and chip in for the check."

"He's such a rata he washes disposable plates to reuse them."

Regional synonyms:

Showing 3 definitions, sorted by votes

Al rato

Bandera de México

En un momento, más tarde, eventualmente y sin hora exacta en México. Es esa promesa temporal mexicana donde 'al rato' puede significar en diez minutos o en tres horas, nadie lo sabe con certeza.