He smiled to himself at the thought of someone who would dance to the day, and so, he walked faster to catch up.
In Spanish street slang, words related to the posterior ( culo ) are often used to denote character flaws (stinginess, fear, laziness). English uses similar metaphors—"tight-ass" for someone rigid or stingy—but the overlap isn't perfect. "Tight-ass" implies uptightness, whereas culionero implies a specific kind of social failing, often related to masculinity or financial solidarity. culioneros translation
There is no perfect one-word equivalent, but here are the best options depending on context: He smiled to himself at the thought of