fighting words.

So, I'm happy to report that my venture into reading in Spanish is going well so far. I'm understanding everything. I'm finding lots of new vocabulary. I'm feeling confident, productive, and smart. All good things.

The best part? Today's "lesson" was fighting words. Here's a short list of my new vocabulary:

¡Lárgate!: Buzz-off!

Rojo de ira: red with anger/wrath

Chillar: to shriek or shout

Apretar los puños: to clench the fists

Calumniar: to slander

Agarrar por el cuello: to grab by the neck

Ahogarse: to drown

Salvajada: savage act

Bofetada: slap

Palmada: slap or pat

Hacerse añicos: to break into a thousand pieces/smash to smithereens

Amargamente: bitterly

Encolerizarse: to lose one’s temper

Estafar: swindle

Exigir: to demand

....and my personal favorite, ¡Dame tu dinero o te rajo!: “Give me your money, or I’ll cut you!”

You can rest easy knowing I will now be able to hold my own should I find myself in a quarrel -- at least vocabulary-wise.