kiss-off

[kis-awf, -of] /ˈkɪsˌɔf, -ˌɒf/
noun
1.
Slang. an act or instance of dismissing a person or thing:
The company is about to give you the kiss-off, so you'd better start looking for another job.
2.
Billiards, Pool. kiss (def 12).
Origin
1930-35; noun use of verb phrase kiss off

kiss

[kis] /kɪs/
verb (used with object)
1.
to touch or press with the lips slightly pursed, and then often to part them and to emit a smacking sound, in an expression of affection, love, greeting, reverence, etc.:
He kissed his son on the cheek.
2.
to join lips with in this way:
She kissed him and left.
3.
to touch gently or lightly:
The breeze kissed her face.
4.
to put, bring, take, etc., by, or as if by, kissing:
She kissed the baby's tears away.
5.
Billiards, Pool. (of a ball) to make slight contact with or brush (another ball).
verb (used without object)
6.
to join lips in respect, affection, love, passion, etc.:
They kissed passionately.
7.
to express a thought, feeling, etc., by a contact of the lips:
They kissed good-bye at the station.
8.
to purse and then part the lips, emitting a smacking sound, as in kissing someone.
9.
Billiards, Pool. (of a ball) to carom gently off or touch another ball.
noun
10.
an act or instance of kissing.
11.
a slight touch or contact.
12.
Billiards, Pool. the slight touch of one ball by another.
13.
a baked confection of egg whites and confectioners' sugar, served as a cookie.
14.
a piece of toffeelike confectionery, sometimes containing nuts, coconut, or the like.
15.
a small, sometimes conical, bite-size piece of chocolate, usually individually wrapped.
Verb phrases
16.
kiss off, Slang.
  1. to reject, dismiss, or ignore:
    He kissed off their objections with a wave of his hand.
  2. (used to express contemptuous rejection or dismissal).
  3. to give up, renounce, or dispense with:
    Leaving Tulsa meant kissing off a promising job.
Idioms
17.
blow / throw a kiss, to indicate an intended kiss from a distance, usually in bidding farewell, by kissing one's own fingertips and moving the hand toward the person greeted.
18.
kiss ass, Slang: Vulgar. to be obsequious; fawn.
Origin
before 900; Middle English kissen to kiss, Old English cyssan (cognate with German küssen, Old Norse kyssa), derivative of Old English coss a kiss; cognate with Old Norse koss, German Küss
Related forms
outkiss, verb (used with object)
unkissed, adjective
British Dictionary definitions for kiss off

kiss off

verb
1.
(transitive, adverb) to ignore or dismiss rudely and abruptly
noun
2.
a rude and abrupt dismissal

kiss

/kɪs/
verb
1.
(transitive) to touch with the lips or press the lips against as an expression of love, greeting, respect, etc
2.
(intransitive) to join lips with another person in an act of love or desire
3.
to touch (each other) lightly: their hands kissed
4.
(billiards) (of balls) to touch (each other) lightly while moving
noun
5.
the act of kissing; a caress with the lips related adjective oscular
6.
a light touch
7.
a small light sweet or cake, such as one made chiefly of egg white and sugar: coffee kisses
See also kiss off
Derived Forms
kissable, adjective
Word Origin
Old English cyssan, from coss; compare Old High German kussen, Old Norse kyssa

KISS

abbreviation
1.
keep it simple, stupid
Word Origin and History for kiss off

kiss

v.

Old English cyssan "to kiss," from Proto-Germanic *kussijanan (cf. Old Saxon kussian, Old Norse kyssa, Old Frisian kessa, Middle Dutch cussen, Dutch, Old High German kussen, German küssen, Norwegian and Danish kysse, Swedish kyssa), from *kuss-, probably ultimately imitative of the sound. Related: Kissed; kissing. For vowel evolution, see bury. There appears to be no common Indo-European root word for "kiss," though suggestions of a common ku- sound may be found in the Germanic root and Greek kynein "to kiss," Hittite kuwash-anzi "they kiss," Sanskrit cumbati "he kisses."

Kissing, as an expression of affection or love, is unknown among many races, and in the history of mankind seems to be a late substitute for the more primitive rubbing of noses, sniffing, and licking. [Buck, p.1113]
Some languages make a distinction between the kiss of affection and that of erotic love (cf. Latin saviari "erotic kiss," vs. osculum, literally "little mouth"). French embrasser "kiss," but literally "embrace," came about in 17c. when the older word baiser (from Latin basiare) acquired an obscene connotation. Insulting invitation kiss my ass is at least from 1705, but probably much older (cf. "The Miller's Tale").

n.

Old English coss; see kiss (v.). It became Middle English cuss, but this yielded to kiss, from the verb. Kiss of death in figurative sense "thing that signifies impending failure" is from 1944 (Billboard, Oct. 21), ultimately in reference to Judas's kiss in Gethsemane (Matt. xxvi:48-50). The kiss of peace was, in Old English, sibbecoss (for first element, see sibling).

Slang definitions & phrases for kiss off

kiss off

verb phrase
  1. To dodge; evade: had kissed off all raps (1930s+)
  2. To kill: who kissed off Martin (1940s+)

kiss off

verb phrase
  1. To dismiss rudely; BRUSH someone OFF: The receptionist kissed me off quite cheekily
  2. To let go of, to attempt to forget; KISS something GOODBYE: You can kiss that money off (1930s+)

kiss

noun

kiss-off (1950s+)

Related Terms

butterfly kiss, french kiss, soul kiss


KISS

sentence

Keep it simple, stupid, or keep it simple and stupid (1980s+)


kiss-off

noun

(also California kiss-off or New York kiss-off) A dismissal, esp a rude one; the BOUNCE, brush off, kiss: He got up out of his chair, the standard kiss-off

verb

To die (1940s+ Black)


Related Abbreviations for kiss off

KISS

Keep it simple, stupid!
kiss off in the Bible

of affection (Gen. 27:26, 27; 29:13; Luke 7:38, 45); reconciliation (Gen. 33:4; 2 Sam. 14:33); leave-taking (Gen. 31:28,55; Ruth 1:14; 2 Sam. 19:39); homage (Ps. 2:12; 1 Sam. 10:1); spoken of as between parents and children (Gen. 27:26; 31:28, 55; 48:10; 50:1; Ex. 18:7; Ruth 1:9, 14); between male relatives (Gen. 29:13; 33:4; 45:15). It accompanied social worship as a symbol of brotherly love (Rom. 16:16; 1 Cor. 16:20; 2 Cor. 13:12; 1 Thess. 5:26; 1 Pet. 5:14). The worship of idols was by kissing the image or the hand toward the image (1 Kings 19:18; Hos. 13:2).

Idioms and Phrases with kiss off

kiss off

.
Dismiss or reject, as in He kissed off their offer. This usage alludes to kissing something goodbye [ ; c. 1900 ]
.
Be forced to give up or regard as lost, as in You can kiss off that promotion. [ ; late 1940s ]
.
Get out, go away, as in She told the reporters to kiss off. [ ; early 1990s ]
Encyclopedia Article for kiss off

kiss

a touch or caress of the lips upon the lips, cheek, hand, or feet of another to signify affection, greeting, reverence, or sexual attraction.

Learn more about kiss with a free trial on Britannica.com