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to kiss off

to kiss off

2 8.7
Reject someone or something rudely and tell them to go away
  • phrasal verb
  • /kɪs ɔf/
  • Offensive
translation icon : mandar a la mierda (a alguien) (vulgar)
  • If I were them, I'd put up a bunch of ads from networks and affiliates and tell them (Philly) to kiss off.

Examples

  • Kiss off, dude!

  • Tell them to kiss off.

    Blog text (11)
  • Kiss off, you old tyrant.

  • So the GOP can kiss off the Hispanic vote.

    Blog text (9)
  • I was so angry that I told him to kiss off and never come back.

  • When my boss asked me to work late again, I decided to kiss off that idea.

  • If she can't respect my decision, then she can just kiss off.

Synonyms

to fuck off
vsto kiss off
  • Offensive
104 9.9

Leave or tell someone to leave in a rude way

is an angry contemptuous dismissal using milder language
kiss my ass
vsto kiss off
  • Offensive
49 9.9

To tell someone rudely that you do not care about their opinion or order

is a direct contemptuous order to go away rather than defiant dismissal
to shove off
vsto kiss off
  • Informal
12 7.7

Leave a place quickly, often in a rude way

is more about actively dismissing someone angrily rather than just leaving
to sod off
vsto kiss off
  • Offensive
3 9.9

Tell someone to go away in a rude way

is a contemptuous dismissal rather than just a forceful order
to give someone the brush-off
vsto kiss off
  • Informal
2 7.5

To reject someone quickly and rudely

is more angrily contemptuous and tells the person to leave
to freeze off
vsto kiss off
  • Informal
1 8.5

Treat someone in a cold way and ignore them to show dislike

is a brusque angry dismissal rather than mainly silent ignoring
to frig off
vsto kiss off
  • Offensive
1 9.9

To tell someone rudely to go away and leave you alone

is a contemptuous dismissal often more openly offensive
to cock off
vsto kiss off
  • Offensive
9.9

To tell someone to go away using rude language

is a contemptuous angry dismissal rather than a mild rebuke
to eff off
vsto kiss off
  • Offensive
9.9

A rude way to tell someone to go away without the real swear word

is an angry contemptuous dismissal often using explicit vulgarity

Antonyms

583 1.0

Greet someone in a friendly way when they arrive

20 3.4

A warm, willing acceptance of someone or an idea

How Dismissive

to kiss off
  • Offensive
2 8.7
to snub
7 6.3
to ignore
1.0
to brush off
  • Informal
22 3.9
to shoo away
5 4.1

Surface Forms

kiss off infinitive
kissed off past
kissed off past participle
kissing off present participle
kisses off third person singular

Morphology

kiss + off

The meaning 'to dismiss contemptuously / tell someone to go away' is not a predictable composition of 'kiss' (an affectionate action) and 'off' (a particle/verb with senses like away or kill). The phrase is idiomatic and its dismissive sense cannot be reliably inferred by a B1 learner who only knows the literal constituents, so prior exposure is normally required.

Etymology

Kiss off may come from the idea of giving someone a quick, mocking kiss and waving them off as a rude 'goodbye' that tells them to 'go away'. That's why it now means 'to dismiss someone'.