codo
adjective, nounInformal
A Mexican Spanish slang term. Browse all Mexican slang.
What it means
Stingy, tight-fisted.
Literally: Elbow.
Examples with translations
No seas codo, deja propina.
Don't be so tight, leave a tip.
Es tan codo que trajo su propia agua al restaurante.
He's so stingy he brought his own water to the restaurant.
Where it comes from
From the gesture of tapping one's elbow, which in Mexico means 'he's cheap' — the image being someone so unwilling to open their wallet that their arm has locked at the joint. The gesture is understood without the word.
Other forms
- Similar terms:
- tacaño, agarrado