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Kiss of Death

What Does "Kiss of Death" Mean?

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"Kiss of death" is an English idiom. It means "something that leads to ruin or failure."

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "kiss of death" used in a sentence:
  • His endorsement was the kiss of death for her campaign.
  • The bad reviews were the kiss of death for the new restaurant.
  • In this industry, not keeping up with technology is the kiss of death.
meaning for kiss of death

What Is an Idiom?

An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Kiss of Death" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.

An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.

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