Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun Something that is ultimately ruinous, destructive, or fatal.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

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

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun something that is ruinous

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[From the kiss by which Judas betrayed Jesus (Mark 14:44–46) .]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Biblical: Judas betraying Jesus with a kiss.

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Examples

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  • When a paint brush is placed so that its brush-end is down, and it is abandoned long enough so that its bristles are permanently bent, it is often called the kiss of death! (From ArtLex)

    June 5, 2008