Kibitz is the Oxford English Dictionary’s ‘Word of the Day’ — but their definition will surprise you
The Oxford English Dictionary’s online word of the day is kibitz.
However, the dictionary’s first definition is a bit jarring for Americans who are accustomed to the using the word as a colloquialism for warm, friendly chatter.
Instead, the OED defines it as “To watch (a card game or card player) as a spectator, typically while offering (unwelcome) advice or criticism,” and includes the more positive meaning of kibitz as a secondary definition: “To chat, banter, or joke (with a person), esp. in a lighthearted or informal manner; to fool around.”
The word comes from the German word kiebitzen.
The dictionary also offers several spellings, including kibitz, kibetz, kabitz and kibbitz.
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