kiss of death
noun phrase
: something (such as an act or association) ultimately causing ruin
The movie has a G rating, which is almost a kiss of death. Last year, fewer than 2% of new films were rated G, and nearly all of those were animated.—
Sports Illustrated
—usually used with theSports IllustratedNot long ago, when I proposed to my agent that she champion a book of mine as a work of literature instead of trying to present it as a "Sixties memoir," she told me, with a rueful laugh, that in publishing circles nowadays the "L" word is the kiss of death.—Joel Agee
Joel Agee… a faraway region whose populations are so deeply anti-Western that any government cooperation with America can be the kiss of death …—Alan Tonelson
Alan TonelsonExamples of kiss of death in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
On the other, the risk of website crashes and inventory shortages can be the kiss of death for a business.
—Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 12 Oct. 2024
Her show failing to properly heed her emotions, or her friends’ — now, that’s the true kiss of death.
—Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
However, should Macron choose anyone remotely resembling a political ally from or allied with his centrist party, the very fact of his imprimatur could be the kiss of death.
—Lee Hockstader, Washington Post, 24 July 2024
Apple outreach considered ‘kiss of death’ John Gruber, the tech writer behind the blog Daring Fireball who has covered Apple for more than two decades, and who often defends the company, said Apple is merely being cutthroat.
—Bobby Allyn, NPR, 17 June 2024
Sharing a bed can be a kiss of death for bandmates, but not for Marcus and Jean Baylor.
—Keyaira Boone, Essence, 2 Feb. 2024
There was a time when scandal, the whiff of scandal, or even a simple gaffe was the kiss of death for a presidential candidacy.
—ABC News, 3 Sep. 2023
But making deposits, rather than buying stock, was a kiss of death, instantly producing a junk credit ranking.
—Laurence Kotlikoff, Forbes, 18 Apr. 2023
That, to me, was the kiss of death.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 12 Apr. 2023
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of
Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback
about these examples.
Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 12 Oct. 2024
Her show failing to properly heed her emotions, or her friends’ — now, that’s the true kiss of death.
—Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
However, should Macron choose anyone remotely resembling a political ally from or allied with his centrist party, the very fact of his imprimatur could be the kiss of death.
—Lee Hockstader, Washington Post, 24 July 2024
Apple outreach considered ‘kiss of death’ John Gruber, the tech writer behind the blog Daring Fireball who has covered Apple for more than two decades, and who often defends the company, said Apple is merely being cutthroat.
—Bobby Allyn, NPR, 17 June 2024
Sharing a bed can be a kiss of death for bandmates, but not for Marcus and Jean Baylor.
—Keyaira Boone, Essence, 2 Feb. 2024
There was a time when scandal, the whiff of scandal, or even a simple gaffe was the kiss of death for a presidential candidacy.
—ABC News, 3 Sep. 2023
But making deposits, rather than buying stock, was a kiss of death, instantly producing a junk credit ranking.
—Laurence Kotlikoff, Forbes, 18 Apr. 2023
That, to me, was the kiss of death.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 12 Apr. 2023
Articles Related to kiss of death
Dictionary Entries Near kiss of death
Cite this Entry
“Kiss of death.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kiss%20of%20death. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share