Tamaño Poco

The Spanish word 'tamaño' is a noun meaning 'size', but in Costa Rica it can be used as an adjective as part of an idiomatic expression. The phrase 'tamaño poco', which shouldn't make sense by any stretch of standard Spanish, in Costa Rica means 'a lot of' or 'a substantial amount of'. For example:

Antes era un pobre, pero ahora tiene tamaño poco ganado.
[Translation] Before he was a poor man, but now he has a considerable amount of cattle.

You will hear stuff like this all the time in the Costa Rican countryside. Now, read the following example that highlights an important characteristic of this Costa Rican idiom:

Antes era un pobre, pero ahora tiene tamaño poco plata.

[Translation] Before he was a poor man, but now he has a considerable amount of money.

After seeing this example, and thinking of 'tamaño poco' as 'a lot' or the Spanish 'mucho/a', you might expect the former to take on the gender of the noun it's describing like most Spanish adjectives. 'Tamaño poco', however, effectively functions as a noun phrase that leads into a prepositional phrase. That's why I prefer to say that 'tamaño poco' means 'a considerable amount of' or 'a substantial amount of' instead of simply say it means 'a lot'.

Costa Rican National Anthem - Himno Nacional de Costa Rica

The Costa Rican National Anthem was adopted in 1853 and composed by Manuel María Gutiérrez. The lyrics to the anthem have been in use since 1949. Every morning in a typical Costa Rican public primary school, the National Anthem is preceded by everyone reciting Hail Mary, Our Father, and a prayer prepared by and individual student. (Roman Catholicism is the official state religion in Costa Rica.)

Posted below are the Spanish lyrics to the Himno followed by their approximate English translation.

Noble patria tu hermosa bandera
expresión de tu vida nos da
bajo el límpido azul de tu cielo
blanca y pura descansa la paz

En la lucha tenaz, de fecunda labor
que enrojece del hombre la faz
conquistaron tus hijos labriegos, sencillos
eterno prestigio, estima y honor
eterno presitigio, estima y honor

Salve oh tierra gentil
Salve oh madre de amor
Cuando alguien pretenda tu gloria manchar
verás a tu pueblo valiente y viril
la tosca herramienta en arma trocar

Noble patria tu pródigo suelo
dulce abrigo y sustento nos da
bajo el límpido azul de tu cielo
vivan siempre el trabajo y la paz

[English]

Noble homeland your beautiful flag
expression of your life it gives us.
Beneath the limpid blue of your sky
white and pure rests peace.

In the tenacious fight of fruitful labor
that reddens the man's face
your simple laborer sons conquered
eternal prestige, esteem and honor
eternal prestige, esteem and honor

Hail oh gentile country
Hail oh mother of love
If someone intends to stain your glory
you will see your people, brave and virile
the rough tool turns into weapon.

Hail oh homeland your fertile soil
sweet shelter and sustenance it gives us.
Beneath the limpid blue of your sky
may work and peace live forever!