plata o plomo

Plata o plomo is a Colombian Spanish slang phrase that translates to “silver or lead.” A person saying the phrase is telling the listener to either accept a bribe (plata, meaning “silver,” a common slang term for money in Colombia) or lose their life (plomo, a metonym for “lead bullet”).

Oye! Plata o plomo pandejo.

"Listen here sucker, play along or its lights out".

Silver or lead: money or a bullet.
Or, in the words of the Godfather: “I’m going to make you an offer you can’t refuse

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plata o plomo

Silver or lead. Give me your money or get shot. Also used by the Cartel to extort important people into accepting bribes.

Silver = something valuable
Lead = bullets

“¡Plata o plomo!” - give me your money or get shot
“¿Plata o plomo?” - take the bribe or take a bullet

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plata o plomo

An invitation for Mexican government officials to join the Zetas drug cartel. Soon such invitations may given to civil servants in your hometown.

One of the Federales who gave the second reply to 'plata o plomo.'

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