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satisficing
train track
Jan 9, 2004 04:13
20 yrs ago
4 viewers *
English term

air kiss and blow kisses

Non-PRO English Art/Literary
What's the difference between the two actions?
Responses
3 +15 kiss next to the face/kiss the hand and blow the kiss to the recipient;social and personal
5 +3 not too much difference

Responses

+15
2 hrs
Selected

kiss next to the face/kiss the hand and blow the kiss to the recipient;social and personal

air-kiss = to perform an action similar to kissing someone without touching them with your lips, especially in an insincere way

blow sb a kiss (also blow a kiss to/at sb) = to kiss your hand and blow on it in the direction of someone

Quite different - the action is different and the meaning is different too.

- air-kiss is a way of greeting people at social functions - it is offered next to the face.
- blow a kiss is a gesture with tender/personal/romantic (or 'making a pass') overtones, where the kiss is conveyed by the blow/breath of one person to another. eg by children and young/single people
Reference:

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Peer comment(s):
agree Steven Capsuto
1 hr
agree Gordon Darroch (X)
2 hrs
agree LFQ
2 hrs
agree mbc : yes, the term air kiss implies a bit of stiffness; blowing a kiss is sweet
2 hrs
agree jerrie : air kiss - close up but not touching, mwah mwah either side of face; blow a kiss is from distance (with or without sound!)...a kiss indicated from a distance
2 hrs
agree Lucie Brione
2 hrs
agree cmwilliams (X)
4 hrs
agree David Moore (X)
4 hrs
agree Selcuk Akyuz
5 hrs
agree Natasa Mazar
7 hrs
agree nothing
7 hrs
agree luzba
7 hrs
agree Tanja Abramovic (X)
10 hrs
agree jccantrell : Yep, I would air-kiss the French Prime Minister, but blow kisses to the crowd upon arrival at the airport!
11 hrs
agree Rajiv Arora
3 days 8 hrs
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thank you! "
+3
8 mins

not too much difference

The difference is minor, as far as I know an air kiss is a facial expression where the lips are pursed as if kissing, while when blowing kisses you seemingly place the kiss on the palm of your hand and then "blow it" towards the other person.

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Note added at 2004-01-09 06:32:02 (GMT)
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Apologies to all my pets. Yes, you can blow kisses to animals as well (or plants, or even unanimate objects), not just to people. :)

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Note added at 2004-01-09 06:36:03 (GMT)
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(Def. from real life + The American Heritage Dictionary)

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Note added at 2004-01-09 06:45:34 (GMT)
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A picture:
http://www.acclaimimages.com/_gallery/_pages/0018-0401-0808-...
Peer comment(s):
agree Iolanta Vlaykova Paneva
8 mins
agree Özden Arıkan
13 mins
agree Daniel Mencher
1 hr
agree Ramon Somoza
2 hrs
disagree Steven Capsuto : Usually, an air kiss implies the faces are relatively close together. Typically it's two women who almost kiss, but don't in order to keep their makeup from smearing. Blowing a kiss is what you do if the other person is not near you.
4 hrs
neutral jerrie : There is a distinct difference, as Steven says. Neither involve contact, both indicate a kiss is intended, air kiss close/almost touching, blowing a kiss is from a distance
4 hrs
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