| a fatal or destructive relationship or action: The support of the outlawed group was the kiss of death to the candidate. |
| kiss of death n. Something that is ultimately ruinous, destructive, or fatal: "Divorce was once a political kiss of death" (Ellen Goodman). [From the kiss by which Judas betrayed Jesus (Mark 14:44-46).] |
kiss of death
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kiss of death
An action or relationship that is ultimately ruinous. For example, Some regard a royal divorce as a kiss of death to the monarchy. This term alludes to the betrayal of Jesus by Judas Iscariot, who kissed him as a way of identifying him to the soldiers who came to arrest him (Matthew 26: 47-49). It dates only from about 1940 but was previously called a Judas kiss.