"A judas kiss" is an idiomatic expression that signifies an act of betrayal disguised as a show of love, affection, or friendship. It describes a situation where someone's actions appear friendly or supportive on the surface, but are actually intended to harm or deceive the recipient. The phrase highlights the duplicity and treachery involved, often by someone in a position of trust.
The expression originates from the biblical story of Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus, who betrayed Jesus to the Roman authorities in exchange for money. Judas identified Jesus to the soldiers by greeting him with a kiss, a gesture of affection that concealed his treacherous intent.
The register is generally neutral to formal, suitable for both written and spoken contexts, although its somewhat literary origin gives it a slightly elevated tone.
"A judas kiss" can be used as a noun phrase, typically as the object or subject complement of a verb. It can be modified by adjectives to further specify the nature of the betrayal (e.g., "a cruel Judas kiss"). While the core meaning remains consistent, avoid overly literal interpretations that focus solely on the act of kissing.
It sounds unnatural to use the phrase in purely literal contexts, such as describing an actual kiss between two people without any element of betrayal. Negating the phrase (e.g., "not a Judas kiss") is possible, but less common, and usually implies a genuine act of affection.
These examples are sourced from a judas kiss on Ludwig.guru.
"If he goes on like this he will get a Judas kiss Or the next thing you know he'll be dating him." — The Guardian - Opinion
"The warning list is a Judas kiss for countries seeking to attract American tourists, and it's easy to see why — Colombia shares company in this rogue's gallery with Cote d'Ivoire (raging civil war with mobs targeting foreigners) and Indonesia (jihadi suicide bombers)." — The New York Times - Travel
"They execute a Gaga-sized dance routine in an "electric chapel," and the Judas Kiss is preceded by Gaga painting his lips with a lipstick-gun before he gives Jesus two smackers on the cheek." — Huffington Post
"In 2012, he starred in a revival of "The Judas Kiss," in London, then toured the U.K. with it." — The New Yorker
"Whether she's admitting mistakes (in "Splitting Atoms") or finally getting fed up with an evasive partner (in "Judas Kiss"), her singing bounces back from any predicament, chipper and ready for anything." — The New York Times - Arts
Examples sourced from https://ludwig.guru/s/a+judas+kiss
| Phrase | Context |
|---|---|
| stab in the back | A direct and often unexpected act of betrayal by someone trusted. |
| wolf in sheep's clothing | Describes someone who appears harmless but is actually dangerous. |
| act of treachery | A more formal and general term for betrayal. |
| deceptive ploy | Focuses on the trickery and manipulation involved. |
| betrayal of trust | Highlights the broken confidence and faith. |
| double-cross | An act of deceiving someone with whom you are supposedly working. |
| two-faced | Describes a person who says one thing to someone's face and another behind their back. |
Common mistakes include:
Learners often misunderstand the historical and biblical reference, leading to misinterpretations of its meaning in context.
| Expression | Idiomatic Meaning | Register | Avoid In |
|---|---|---|---|
| a judas kiss | An act of betrayal disguised as affection or friendship. | Neutral to Formal | Literal descriptions of kissing without betrayal. |
"A judas kiss" is almost always used figuratively to describe an act of betrayal disguised as affection. While it stems from the literal act of kissing, its idiomatic meaning has overshadowed any literal interpretation. It's rare to see it used to simply describe a kiss, even if the kiss is unwanted.
Both "a judas kiss" and "a stab in the back" describe acts of betrayal, but "a judas kiss" emphasizes the deception and feigned affection that precedes the betrayal. A "stab in the back" is a more general term for betrayal, often implying a sudden and direct act of treachery without the same level of calculated duplicity.
To avoid misusing "a judas kiss," remember that the core element is betrayal disguised as affection or friendship. Ensure the context involves someone acting friendly or supportive on the surface, while secretly intending to harm or deceive. Avoid using it to describe simple disagreements or acts of dislike without this element of treachery and false affection.
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