kiss-off
noun
an act or instance of dismissing a person or thing.
kiss-off
American
[kis-awf, -of]
/ ˈkɪsˌɔf, -ˌɒf /
noun
-
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.
-
Billiards, Pool. kiss.
kiss off
British
verb
noun
kiss off
Idioms
-
Dismiss or reject, as in He kissed off their offer . This usage alludes to kissing something goodbye [ Slang ; c. 1900]
-
Be forced to give up or regard as lost, as in You can kiss off that promotion . [ Slang ; late 1940s]
-
Get out, go away, as in She told the reporters to kiss off . [ Slang ; early 1990s]
Etymology
Origin of kiss-off
First recorded in 1930–35; noun use of verb phrase kiss off
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
She gave thanks and recognition to the Mexican community and followed with her second duet of the night: the mariachi-assisted reggaeton kiss-off track, “Mamiii,” with L.A.’s homegrown diva Becky G.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 13, 2026
There’s at least one on every Swift record: “Actually Romantic” is a kiss-off aimed at someone whose hatred for the singer is so intense that it starts to look like love.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 3, 2025
Florence Pugh declared herself a fan, and ended up starring in the video for Never Need Me, a killer kiss-off to a boyfriend who left her dangling.
From BBC ● Apr. 5, 2025
Cowbells, handclaps and piano chords drive “Better Things,” a K-pop kiss-off with ingeniously cascading vocal harmonies and absolutely no regrets.
From New York Times ● Dec. 6, 2023
“You can take my money drag my name ’round town/I don’t mind I changed it anyway,” she sings in the kiss-off single “Red Flag Collector.”
From Seattle Times ● Jun. 18, 2023
A decision had to be made: Keep going or give it the kiss off?
From Seattle Times ● Jun. 6, 2022
“It was our kiss off to the city,” Ms. Gobena said.
From New York Times ● Oct. 15, 2021
Before our annual circuit around the sun forces us to kiss off the blueberry season, I urge one and all to try this blueberry tart.
From Washington Times ● Sep. 4, 2018
The details of the alley-oop — the heaven-high pass from John Wall; the defender, Kyle Lowry, running beneath him; the catch and tender kiss off the glass before sailing out of bounds — were hazy.
From Washington Post ● Apr. 22, 2018
She turned back briefly to airmail a kiss off the tip of her index finger to Dave, but he wasn’t there anymore.
From "Burning Blue" by Paul Griffin
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
