Example
“The celebrity endorsement became the kiss of death for a campaign that wanted to seem independent.”
Dictionary details
Related idioms
Expressions connected by reviewed component words or topic tags.
at death's door
CEFR B2so seriously ill or injured that death seems close
kiss and make up
CEFR B1to reconcile and become friendly again after an argument
kiss and tell
CEFR B2to reveal private or intimate information that was shared in confidence
kiss of life
CEFR C1mouth-to-mouth resuscitation given to revive someone who is not breathing
go up in smoke
CEFR B2be completely ruined or fail, leaving nothing of the original plan
pie in the sky
CEFR B2an attractive ambition with almost no realistic prospect of being achieved
Source methodology
Meanings, register, CEFR, and examples come from the reviewed dictionary record. Expression notes may describe a reviewed present-day word picture or a background note; they are not presented as verified etymology.