kiss of death

English

Etymology

Biblical: Judas betraying Jesus with a kiss.

Pronunciation

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Noun

kiss of death (plural kisses of death)

1. A kiss on the cheek that signifies the death of the receiver, as delivered by a mob boss or one with such influence.
2. (informal, idiomatic) Something that may seem good and favourable but that actually brings ruin to hopes, plans, etc.

   The role in the soap opera was the kiss of death for Ann's career as a theatrical actress.

   • 2011, James D. Hornfischer, “26: Suicide”, in Neptune's Inferno: The U.S. Navy at Guadalcanal‎^[1], New York: Bantam Books, →ISBN, retrieved 17 December 2022, page 256:

     Confronted with the savage defenses, many of the Japanese pilots flinched. Failure to hold formation was the kiss of death. As they reached the crucial moment of decision—push ahead and drop the torpedo, or lose nerve and turn away—most chose the latter. Turning, they lost airspeed and showed their bellies to the hungry Navy gunners, and that was it. The twenties and forties lit them like fuses. The five-inch guns "seemed to literally hammer them down," Captain Hoover of the Helena remarked.

See also

• kiss of life