kvetch

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To the so-called experts on the Yiddish word "kvetch": The "k" is not silent, but maybe you should be.

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Definitions (6)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (3)

  1. intransitive verb To complain persistently and whiningly.
  2. noun A chronic, whining complainer.
  3. noun A nagging complaint: "a rambling kvetch against the system” (Leonard Ross).

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Examples (40)

  • So here's a welcome countermeasure: "Born to kvetch, I offer up my favorite dozen-plus-three straight-to-disc US debuts this year, the likes of which would fill up my year's top ten list if we were playing fair." —  GreenCine Daily
  • And at least when I hear people who identify as asexual kvetch, it's always about the assumption that sex is coupled with romantic and emotional intimacy in our culture. —  MetaFilter Projects
  • To the girl who picks on the kvetching board: I speak fluent Yiddish and kvetch is not pronounced like knife. —  Daily Tar Heel RSS
  • To the so-called experts on the Yiddish word "kvetch": The "k" is not silent, but maybe you should be. —  Daily Tar Heel RSS
  • Just when I'd resolved to never attend another meeting regarding Jewish fundraising, planning a Jewish event or solving the myriad petty issues of a Jewish community that's small enough to know better because they just turn into giant kvetch sessions that run into —  J. Weekly
 

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Etymologies (1)

Toggle American Heritage etymologies American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. Yiddish kvetshn, to squeeze, complain, from Middle High German quetzen, quetschen, to squeeze.
 

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