Judas

Related to Judas: Judas tree, Judas Maccabeus

Judas kiss

A traitorous action disguised as a show of affection. The phrase alludes to the Biblical account of the betrayal of Jesus by Judas, who kissed Jesus to identify him to the authorities arresting him. Don't try to be my friend now, it's just a Judas kiss! I know you're trying to get more information out of me so you can report it to the headmaster!
See also: Judas, kiss

kiss of death

An action, event, or association that causes inevitable ruin or failure. An allusion to Judas Iscariot's betrayal of Jesus Christ, during which Judas kissed Jesus as a way of identifying him to those who would put him to death. The company's connection to the disgraced media mogul will likely prove to be its kiss of death. The president refused to stand by the senator during the crisis—essentially giving him the kiss of death.
See also: death, kiss, of
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

kiss of death

An action or relationship that is ultimately ruinous. For example, Some regard a royal divorce as a kiss of death to the monarchy. This term alludes to the betrayal of Jesus by Judas Iscariot, who kissed him as a way of identifying him to the soldiers who came to arrest him (Matthew 26: 47-49). It dates only from about 1940 but was previously called a Judas kiss.
See also: death, kiss, of
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

a Judas kiss

an act of betrayal, especially one disguised as a gesture of friendship.
Judas Iscariot was the disciple who betrayed Jesus to the authorities in return for thirty pieces of silver: ‘And he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast’ (Matthew 26:48).
See also: Judas, kiss

kiss of death

an action or event that causes certain failure for an enterprise.
This expression may refer to the kiss of betrayal given by Judas Iscariot to Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:48–9).
1998 Spectator I commend the Commission's recent Green Paper and its efforts to introduce an enlightened, evolutionary discussion—although I hope my saying so will not be the kiss of death.
See also: death, kiss, of
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

kiss of death

n. the direct cause of the end of someone or something. Your attitude was the kiss of death for your employment here.
See also: death, kiss, of
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
See also:
  • Judas kiss
  • a Judas kiss
  • kiss of death
  • kiss of death, a/the
  • the kiss of death
  • what would Jesus do
  • WWJD
  • Jesus, Mary, and Joseph!
  • come to Jesus
  • Jesus
References in periodicals archive
With a rich back catalogue to plunder, Judas Priest ensured that pretty much every album was covered, delivering gold-plated classics such as the thunderous Victim of Changes and Hell Bent For Leather, delivered with Halford straddling a Harley Davidson motorbike, to the hits Breaking The Law and You've Got Another Thing Coming.
Metal giants' farewell; Heavy metal gods Judas Priest were at the Metro Radio Arena last night as part of their farewell Epitaph tour. MICK BURGESS was there to review the show and capture the swansong gig in pictures
The band opened with Heavy Metal God, as singer Rob Halford announced, "we've got a lot of metal for you tonight!" Judas Priest are undoubtedly giants of the British metal scene and their sound, especially in the live arena, is a huge wall of ear-bleeding mega riffs.
REVIEW #1; Judas Priest, Queensryche, Rival Sons Newport Centre
"My new video Judas came out yesterday and it was important for me to take Biblical symbolism and marry it with cultural symbolism and create a modern social statement about forgiveness and freedom and faith," she told a packed news conference in Mexico City.
Lady Gaga defends her latest video shocker Judas
The Same Jeans singer, who played a double header at Glasgow's Barrowland last night and Wednesday, told the Razz: "I've liked the character of Judas since I was wee.
AS JUDAS IT GETS FOR KYLE; Singer wants 'traitor' part in Jesus musical
The other epithet given to Judas, "the one who handed him over" (10:4), immediately catches the reader's attention and raises ominous questions about Judas' future.
From villain to tragic figure: the characterization of Judas in Matthew
Highlighted is the increasing link between Judas and "Jew," in which the latter are vilified for their role as "Christ-killers" while the former takes on stereotyped Semitic features.
Judas: a Biography
As well, Gubar wisely points out the role of the Judas figure as a psychological basis for the genesis of antisemitism.
Judas and antisemitism--so happy together
Although it is usually very difficult to assert that any text is the first of its kind, the Middle English poem 'Judas' has long been regarded as an exception to that rule: though certainly not the first, it is at least the earliest known ballad written in English.
The earliest known English Ballad: a new reading of 'Judas'
A JESUIT OFF-BROADWAY: CENTER STAGE WITH JESUS, JUDAS, AND LIFE'S BIG QUESTIONS By James Martin Loyola Press, 272 pages, $22.95
Judas and the priest: an actor and playwright go in search of a theological adviser
The so-called gospel of Judas exhibits signs of being influenced by various religious systems.
The Jewish background of the so-called 'gospel' of Judas
Clement of Alexandria observes: "Not that they became apostles through being chosen for some distinguished peculiarity of nature, since also Judas was chosen along with them.
Remain in my love
'Don't be a Judas, shun wealth idolatry' !-- -- Edu Punay (The Philippine Star) - April 18, 2019 - 12:00am MANILA, Philippines Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle yesterday called on the Filipino faithful to avoid idolatry of wealth.
'Don't be a Judas, shun wealth idolatry'