Idiom
betray with a kiss
Meaning
To betray someone in a seemingly inconspicuous or innocuous manner.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Examples
“He smiled and betrayed her with a kiss.”
“The politician shook his rival's hand and offered a friendly smile, only to betray him with a kiss by leaking his private emails.”
“The manager praised my hard work during the meeting, but she betrayed me with a kiss by secretly recommending my colleague for the promotion instead.”
“The advisor offered words of comfort and a warm embrace, yet he ultimately betrayed his king with a kiss by orchestrating the palace coup.”
Examples
simple
“He smiled and betrayed her with a kiss.”
contextual
“The politician shook his rival's hand and offered a friendly smile, only to betray him with a kiss by leaking his private emails.”
“The manager praised my hard work during the meeting, but she betrayed me with a kiss by secretly recommending my colleague for the promotion instead.”
complex
“The advisor offered words of comfort and a warm embrace, yet he ultimately betrayed his king with a kiss by orchestrating the palace coup.”
Origin
From the Gospel of Luke, chapter 22, in the New Testament. The phrase originates in verse 47 and 48, which record a crowd led by Judas, one of the Twelve. Judas approached Jesus to kiss Him, an act of greeting that served as a signal for arrest.
In the Berean Standard Bible, the account notes that While He was still speaking, the betrayal occurred. Jesus asked the man, "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?" The question highlights the use of a gesture of affection to facilitate a capture, marking the transition of the kiss from a social formality to a tactical instrument.
Key words
Related idioms
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