kissing cousin
C1/C2Informal, occasionally neutral
Definition
Meaning
A relative one knows well enough to greet with a kiss; a close relative not from one's immediate family.
Something closely related or similar; a thing that is comparable or analogous to another.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a compound noun. The term originates from family and social etiquette where close but not immediate family members (e.g., first cousins) are greeted with a kiss. Its extended metaphorical meaning is more common in technical or analytical contexts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Conceptually understood in both varieties, but the original social custom is perhaps more associated with American Southern culture. The metaphorical use is equally common in both.
Connotations
UK: Primarily a descriptive term; can carry a slight old-fashioned or genteel nuance. US: Can have stronger cultural associations with Southern family networks and etiquette.
Frequency
Moderate frequency in both, more common in the extended metaphorical sense, especially in writing.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[be] a kissing cousin of [noun][regard/treat/consider] X as a kissing cousin to YVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “kissing cousins (with)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used to describe companies, products, or markets that are closely related but not identical. E.g., 'These two software platforms are kissing cousins in terms of functionality.'
Academic
Used in linguistics, biology, or sociology to describe closely related concepts, species, or social groups. E.g., 'The dialects are kissing cousins, sharing a recent common ancestor.'
Everyday
Used literally to describe a cousin you are close to, or figuratively for very similar items. E.g., 'Our families are so close, she's more like a kissing cousin.'
Technical
Used in comparative analysis to denote a close but not direct relationship. E.g., 'In taxonomy, the two species are considered kissing cousins.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- (Not standard as a verb)
American English
- (Not standard as a verb)
adverb
British English
- (Not standard as an adverb)
American English
- (Not standard as an adverb)
adjective
British English
- (Not standard as an adjective)
American English
- (Not standard as an adjective)
Examples
By CEFR Level
- (Too complex for A2)
- My aunt brought my kissing cousin to the party.
- Spanish and Italian are like kissing cousins.
- In the business merger, the two companies were kissing cousins, sharing similar market goals.
- He's not my brother, but he's a kissing cousin I've known since childhood.
- The proposed policy is a kissing cousin to the one that failed last year, differing only in minor details.
- From a linguistic perspective, these two cognate languages can rightly be considered kissing cousins.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of greeting a favourite cousin with a kiss on the cheek. The word 'kissing' signals closeness, not romance. If two ideas are 'kissing cousins', they are closely related ideas that greet each other in the mind.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOCIAL/FAMILY INTIMACY IS CONCEPTUAL SIMILARITY. A familiar family relationship maps onto the relationship between two similar ideas or things.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation as 'целующийся кузен', which implies romantic involvement. The phrase is about familial closeness, not romance. A closer cultural equivalent might be 'двоюродный брат/сестра, с которым/которой на "ты"' or, metaphorically, 'близкий аналог'.
Common Mistakes
- Using it to describe a romantic partner (incorrect).
- Confusing it with 'kissing kin' (a rarer variant).
- Overusing the literal meaning in non-family contexts.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'kissing cousin' LEAST likely to be used appropriately?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is not. It refers to familial closeness (a cousin you greet with a kiss) or metaphorical similarity. It does not imply romantic involvement.
Yes, this is its most common modern use. It is frequently used as a metaphor to describe two things that are very similar or closely related.
A 'cousin' is a general family relation. A 'kissing cousin' implies a specific degree of closeness—close enough that your family's custom involves a kiss in greeting, typically a first or second cousin you know well.
It is informal in its literal social sense but is accepted in neutral-to-formal registers when used as a precise metaphor in analytical, academic, or professional writing.