kiss
HighNeutral to Informal. Most common in everyday speech but acceptable in most contexts. The idiom 'kiss goodbye to something' can be used in more formal, business-like registers.
Definition
Meaning
To touch or press with the lips as a sign of love, affection, greeting, or reverence.
To make any form of gentle contact; to barely touch something. Also used figuratively to describe a light or glancing impact.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The act typically implies positive emotion (love, affection, respect), but can be culturally or contextually defined (e.g., a ceremonial kiss, a Judas kiss). As a noun, it refers to the act or an instance of kissing.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. The phrase 'snog' is a common British informal synonym for passionate kissing, not used in AmE. 'Kiss and tell' (revealing private details of a relationship) is slightly more common in BrE media discourse.
Connotations
Similar core connotations. 'French kiss' is understood in both, but 'snog' (BrE) carries a more specific, heavy connotation of extended passionate kissing.
Frequency
Comparably high frequency in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] kiss [Object][Subject] kiss [Object] [Prepositional Phrase] (e.g., on the cheek)[Subject] kiss [Object] goodbye/goodnight[Subject] kiss [Reflexive Pronoun] goodbye to [Object] (idiom)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “kiss goodbye to something”
- “the kiss of death”
- “kiss and make up”
- “kiss something better”
- “kiss the Blarney Stone”
- “kiss of life”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Metaphorical: 'The new regulations were the kiss of death for the project.'
Academic
Rare in formal academic prose, except in literary analysis, anthropology (cultural rituals), or psychology (human behaviour).
Everyday
Ubiquitous in social, familial, and romantic contexts.
Technical
In medicine: 'kiss of life' (mouth-to-mouth resuscitation). In physics/engineering: 'kissing contact' (tangential touch between surfaces).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- They kissed goodnight at the door.
- He leant over to kiss her on the cheek.
- You can kiss that promotion goodbye with that attitude.
American English
- They kissed goodbye at the airport.
- She kissed her child's scraped knee to make it better.
- The bill kissed the right-field foul pole for a home run.
adjective
British English
- They met for a kiss-and-tell interview with a tabloid.
- The gift included a kiss-proof lipstick.
American English
- They had a quick kiss-off meeting before he left.
- She bought a long-lasting, kiss-proof lip colour.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The mother kissed her child.
- He gave her a kiss on the cheek.
- They kissed under the mistletoe at the Christmas party.
- She blew a kiss to the audience before leaving the stage.
- Cultural norms dictate whether you kiss, bow, or shake hands when greeting.
- Landing that big client would be fantastic, but losing our biggest one would be the kiss of death.
- The two political factions, after years of rivalry, were forced into a Judas kiss of an alliance.
- The comet is predicted to kiss the outer atmosphere of the planet before being slung back into space.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
KISS: 'Keep It Simple, Sweetheart' – just like a simple kiss should be.
Conceptual Metaphor
AFFECTION IS PHYSICAL PROXIMITY/CONTACT; FAILURE/REJECTION IS A HARMFUL TOUCH ('kiss of death'); LOSS IS A PARTING GESTURE ('kiss goodbye').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid using 'kiss' for formal or ceremonial cheek-to-cheek greetings common in Russia, which are better described as 'air kisses' or 'cheek kisses'.
- The verb 'целовать' is transitive; English often requires a preposition: 'He kissed her on the cheek' (not *'He kissed her cheek' though this is also possible but less specific).
- The idiom 'kiss goodbye to something' means to accept something is lost, not a literal farewell kiss.
Common Mistakes
- *'She kissed to him.' (Incorrect preposition; correct: 'She kissed him.')
- Confusing 'kiss' (mutual/affectionate) with 'peck' (quick, light, often on the cheek).
- Using 'kiss' in overly formal contexts where 'greet' or 'embrace' is more appropriate.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is a British informal term for passionate kissing?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Kissing can express familial love (parent-child), friendship, reverence (kissing a ring, a religious symbol), greeting/ farewell, or even luck (kissing a dice). Context defines the meaning.
A 'peck' is a quick, light, often closed-mouth kiss, usually on the cheek or lips, implying less intimacy. A 'kiss' is more general and can be of any duration or intensity.
It means to accept that you will lose or have to give up on something. Structure: 'If you miss this deadline, you can kiss goodbye to your bonus.'
Grammatically, yes, but it's more specific and slightly more literary/ intense. In everyday speech, 'He kissed her on the lips' is more common and neutral.