kibitz

verb

Etymology: From Yiddish קיבעצן (kibetsn), cognate to German kiebitzen (“to look on”), from German Kiebitz (“lapwing”), from Middle High German gibiz (“plover”), imitative of its cry. Compare peewit.

1. To make small talk or idle chatter.

   “Louise and I used to head down to the coffee shop and just sit for hours and kibitz.”

   “His wife Karen listened as John and I kibitzed about our experiences at the University of Oklahoma some 40 years ago.”

2. To give unsolicited or unwanted advice or make unhelpful or idle comments, especially to someone playing a game.

   “Quit kibitzing! You're giving away my hand!”

3. To watch a card or board game.

   “[…] stayed in the dorm, although she lived in Brooklyn Heights, and I frequently spent long hours with her, either in her room or at the student lounge, where we drank coffee and smoked cigarettes and kibitzed the never-ending bridge game.”

   “When it was my turn to stay in the office until 11 pm. closing, I kibitzed on their poker games and heard some colorful tales.”