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Glite Dictionary
to kibitz

to kibitz

3 9.7
To make unwanted comments while watching others, often during a game
  • verb
  • /ˈkɪbɪts/
  • Informal
: interrumpir
  • No, you iron, and I'll spend all day up front... kibitzing with the customers.
  • just kibitz

Ladies and gentlemen, I'm Mitzi Banana More and I'm here to kibitz with none other than multi Talented.

Examples

  • Lee glanced up, but he was standing at the counter, beside his friend, a tall drink of water, kibitzing with Dante, Junior.

    Fiction book (1996)

  • There were three men on the stoop she had pointed to, two of them playing checkers, the third kibitzing their game.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • When the hour got dark, the wives and children would go home, and the men would kibitz until the final results.

    Blog text (6)

  • I ain't got time to kibitz with ya.

    Dead Presidents (1995)

  • He wanted to kibitz for a minute.

    Hearts of the West (1975)

  • I just kibitz from the sidelines.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • Like every other bystander, I had a right to kibitz.

    Fiction book (1993)

  • Could I kibitz?

    A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)

  • Harlan is kibitzing with Travis.

    Fiction book (2002)

  • While waiting for the game to start, I overheard some fans kibitzing about their favorite players.

Synonyms

to kibbitz
vsto kibitz
  • Informal
1 9.9

To give unwanted comments or advice while watching someone

has identical meaning but uses an alternative spelling

Antonyms

to refrain
81 4.2

Choose not to do something you want to do

to mind one's own business
  • Informal
1 3.7

Stay out of other people's private matters and focus on your own

How Intrusive

to meddle
68 5.7
to butt in
  • Informal
26 4.4
to kibitz
  • Informal
3 9.7
to interject
38 6.5
to comment
720 1.7
mention
223 2.5

Surface Forms

kibitz infinitive
kibitzed past
kibitzed past participle
kibitzing present participle
kibitzes third person singular

Etymology

Kibitz came into English from Yiddish and German words like Kiebitz, the name of a bird that would stand nearby and 'peep' or watch people. Because the bird watched and made noisy calls, kibitz came to mean someone who watches a game or meeting and gives unwanted advice or remarks, so to kibitz is to interrupt with unwanted comments.