Kibitz: a useful word for life in Malta

Published: September 26, 2010 at 9:06pm

From the OED:

kibitz |ˈkɪbɪts|verb [ intrans. ] to informally look on and offer unwelcome advice, esp. at a card game.• speak informally; chat : she kibitzed with friends. DERIVATIVE Skibitzer noun ORIGIN 1920s: Yiddish, from colloquial German, from German Kiebitz ‘interfering onlooker’ (literally ‘lapwing’ ).




9 Comments Comment

  1. Melissa M. says:

    So true! Once whilst (decently) parking my car, I saw this 70-something year-old man looking at me in disgust. When I got out of the car he made a scene because he said my tyres were flat. I could not believe it.

    I felt so bullied that I actually did go to the nearest service station, only to find that there was nothing wrong with them.

    Since then I’ve noticed and overheard much unwelcome and unsolicited advice. Good to know there’s an actual word for it. I would just keep it simple and use the phrase: BUSYBODY!

  2. Karl Flores says:

    Kibitzing is a perfect description of how Joseph Muscat comes across. He’s not really involved; he’s just an interfering onlooker.

  3. anthony says:

    This is news to me. What a word. No wonder my parents and their friends were invariably furious with me when playing rummy and sent me to my room.

    I must say that I have done my level best not to kibitz for the past 55e years. I learned my lesson. However I am aware that this is a very common pastime in Malta.

  4. Cannot Resist Anymore says:

    Generally, people who kibitz are also schmo or shmuck (also from Yiddish) meaning dorks or jerks

  5. Andrew cachia says:

    The continuous gesturing and frantic behaviour when driving with headlights on. Sickening.

  6. ciccio2010 says:

    Would you consider the act of those who put their comments on the online board of “Ta Times” as kibitzing?

  7. liberal says:

    Young parents with babies are popular targets.

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