dar cosa [phrase] see cosa.
dedo [m] lit. finger; hacer dedo hitch-hike; a dedo (appointed) by the will of someone in power, without consulting with anyone else or following criteria for selection (as if merely pointing at the person with the index finger) — as is routine for the designation of non-elected political officials; A la mitad de la Corte Suprema la puso Menem a dedo ‘Half of the Supreme Court was appointed by (former President Carlos) Menem…’. Journalists popularized the cult alternative digitar, lit. ‘to key in with a finger’ for the same meaning.
despelote [m] a mess, an occasion of great confusion, an organizational disaster. Etymology: from the privative preffix des- (English des-, de-, dis-) and pelot- ‘ball’ (fig. ‘testicle’). The ending -e is curiously found often in words of occasion with a negative connotation (see embole and despiole).
diego [m] (proper personal name, from phonetic similarity with diez ‘ten’) 1 a ten percent, esp. in illegal business; a comission of a bribe that goes to the intermediary or facilitator; 2 ten-peso note, the amount of ten pesos (or whatever currency unit). See also gamba, luca, palo.
divino/a [m, f, adj] lit. ‘divine’; appreciative term for a person (good, original, funny, helpful, beautiful, etc.) or a thing (very nice, beautiful, just right). Used for women, it resembles the meaning of diva (as in English). The term tends to be used by women; it sounds effeminate in men. Examples: Tenés unos chicos divinos ‘You have such adorable kids’ (said by a woman to another); Me compré una malla divina ‘I got myself a lovely bathing suit’. Synonyms: bárbaro, espectacular, brutal (only Susana Giménez). For the related loco divino, see loco.
