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:
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
When she performed her scorching kiss-off number, “¿Qué Creías?” she’d invite an ogling male fan onstage, just to verbally dress him down with her verses.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 27, 2025
Ariana Grande returns with a thumping, crimson-lipped kiss-off on “Yes, And?,” a feather-light confection safely — but still enjoyably — in her comfort zone.
From New York Times ● Jan. 12, 2024
“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
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
