kiss-and-cry

noun

ˈkis-ᵊn(d)-ˈkrī 

variants or kiss and cry

plural kiss-and-cries or kiss and cries

: an area adjacent to a skating rink where figure skaters wait for their marks immediately after performing in a competition

In recent Olympic figure skating, we watched athletes with no chance at medals who were ecstatic in the kiss-and-cry because they had done their best.

—Howard Gensler

Their score [in an Olympic skating event], about two points off their season's best, had Moir's brows furrowed in a frown in the kiss and cry…

—Lori Ewing

He left the ice with a twirl and an arm extended toward the small but adoring crowd before moving to the kiss-and-cry area to hear his scores.

—Abbotsford (British Columbia) News

Word History

First Known Use

1987, in the meaning defined above