The kiss of death (Matthew 26:49)

bible verse

“Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him.”

meaning

When something is a kiss of death, it is considered to have damaging effects.

origin and application

Jesus was betrayed by one of his apostles, Judas, who kissed him so that soldiers who came to arrest him could identify him. Judas’s kiss became a kiss of death, following which Jesus was arrested and crucified.

example

A political scandal is a kiss of death to politicians.