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