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/Sounds like "TEE" (as in "tea") + "rah" (as in "rapper")/

Meaning

A plainclothes detective or investigative police officer in Chile, the cop without a uniform who works undercover. The 'tira' watches, follows, and operates in shadows. In working-class neighborhoods, being tagged as a tira can follow someone for years.

Examples

Watch out for that one, looks like an undercover cop.

The detectives had been following them for days.

Regional synonyms

/Sounds like "TEE" (as in "tea") + "rah" (as in "rapper")/

Meaning

The police or a cop, said in a derogatory way or as a code word among friends to warn that the law is coming. In Mexico, saying 'ahí viene la tira' is the alarm signal for everyone to straighten up or run.

Examples

Run, here comes la tira!

La tira caught him stealing from the store.

Don't do that here, it's full of tiras.

Regional synonyms
Bandera de Argentina
Rati
Bandera de España
Guindilla

Showing 2 definitions, sorted by votes

Completely drunk or very full of food. In Mexico, it's used to describe someone who has indulged too much in alcohol or food.