Don’t look over My Shoulder!

Words in Use (Lesson 33)

• volunteer
• prejudice
• shrill
• jolly
• witty
• hinder
• lecture
• abuse
• mumble
• mute
• wad
• retain

Read the following passage to see how the new words are used in it.
  
Don’t look over My Shoulder!
The kibitzer is a person who volunteers useless information, especially in card games, causing the players to be prejudiced against him. The name comes from a Yiddish word which originally referred* to a certain bird whose shrill cry scared the animals away upon the approach* of the hunters. Though the kibitzer may think he is being jolly or witty, his advice often hinders more than it helps. We may scowl* at him or lecture him for his abuse of our friendship, but he still continues to mumble his unwelcome remarks. The serious player may even wish he could make the kibitzer mute by sticking a wad of cotton in his mouth. The kibitzer, however, may not realize that he is causing torment* or distress* to his colleagues.* Thus we may have to resign* ourselves to his annoying habit if we wish to retain him as a friend.