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
