Judas kiss
Affectionate seeming treachery
A Judas kiss is a betrayal disguised as a gesture of friendship or affection.
The phrase comes from the Gospel account of Judas Iscariot, who identified Jesus to Roman soldiers by greeting him with a kiss.
Any act of treachery masked by apparent goodwill may be called a Judas kiss: His endorsement turned out to be a Judas kiss—he was already negotiating with our competitors.
One who betrays allegiance
- backstabberDisloyal pretend ally
- betrayerOne who breaks allegiance
- turncoatOne who betrays allegiance
- double-crossTreacherous deception of partner
sellout · defector · quisling · collaborator · fifth columnist · perfidy · recreant · apostasy
Deliberate misleading of others
- guileSly, strategic dishonesty
- subterfugeDeliberate deception to conceal
- pretenseDeceptive outward show
- duplicityDeliberate misleading behavior
two-faced · insincerity · hypocrisy · masquerade · charade · sham · artifice · cunning
The one who betrayed
- thirty pieces of silverBiblical betrayal payment
- Last SupperFarewell Passover gathering
- GethsemaneBiblical betrayal garden
- apostleMessenger for a cause
disciple · Jesus · crucifixion · scripture · Gospel · high priest · Sanhedrin
traitor
One who betrays allegiance
- backstabberDisloyal pretend ally
- betrayerOne who breaks allegiance
- turncoatOne who betrays allegiance
double-cross · sellout · defector · quisling · collaborator · fifth columnist · perfidy · recreant · apostasy · desertion
deceit
Deliberate misleading of others
- guileSly, strategic dishonesty
- subterfugeDeliberate deception to conceal
- pretenseDeceptive outward show
duplicity · two-faced · insincerity · hypocrisy · masquerade · charade · sham · artifice · cunning · manipulation
Iscariot
The one who betrayed
- thirty pieces of silverBiblical betrayal payment
- Last SupperFarewell Passover gathering
- GethsemaneBiblical betrayal garden
apostle · disciple · Jesus · crucifixion · scripture · Gospel · high priest · Sanhedrin
notoriety
Fame from misdeeds
stigma · ignominy · scandal · reproach · odium · disrepute · black mark · tarnish · pariah · outcast
- betrayalbackstab, betray, betrayal, traitor, backstabber
- kisseskiss, peck, smooch, snog, buss
- Traitorstraitor, turncoat, betrayer, Benedict Arnold, defector
- Historical AllusionsTrojan horse, Achilles heel, Pyrrhic victory, crossing the Rubicon, Pandora's box
- Passioncrown of thorns, Good Friday, Gethsemane, scourging, nails
- Treachery SymbolsBrutus, silver coins, Iago, Benedict Arnold, backstab
Judas kissfidelity
Loyalty or exactness
loyalty · faithfulness · fealty · blood oath · sacred trust
Judas kissdeclaration of war
Formal announcement of hostilities
cards on the table · fair warning · straight talk · plain dealing
Judas kissmother's embrace
kiss of peace · blessing · benediction · welcome home · safe harbor
Judas, Judaism, Jude, Judas goat, Judaic