Liverpool kiss

English

Alternative forms

• Liverpool Kiss

Etymology

From Liverpool (“city in England”) + kiss.

Pronunciation

• Audio (AU)

  (file)

Noun

Liverpool kiss (plural Liverpool kisses)

1. (UK, Australia, New Zealand, slang) A headbutt.
   • 1957, Gerald Kersh, Fowler′s End, 2006, The Olympia Press, page 42,

     “This Irisher give ′im a Liverpool Kiss. You know what it is, a Liverpool Kiss? Make a quick grab for the lapels o′ the coat, an′ pull somebody forward. At the same time bunt ′im in the face miv the top o′ your ′ead an′ kick ′im in the balls miv your knee. Naturally ′e falls forward. While ′e′s falling, punch ′im in the jaw miv all your might so he gradually falls dahn senseless. Then, at your leisure, kick ′im in the ′ead. Naturally I don′t want you should do such things.... […] ″

   • 1992, Bryce Courtenay, Tandia, Volume 1, 2010, ReadHowYouWant, page 157,

     There wasn′t room to throw a punch so, grabbing the man by the lapels of his coat, he gave him a Liverpool kiss, his forehead smashing into his assailant′s face connecting with the edge of his brow and the base of his nose.

   • 1998, Jock Barnes, Never a White Flag: The Memoirs of Jock Barnes‎^[1], page 146:

     Hamblyn flew into a rage and butted Alec in the face. The old Liverpool kiss!

   • 2001, Vaughan Tucker, Grubby the Eighth Dwarf‎^[2], page 24:

     He often told people about the woman who had given him a Liverpool kiss.
     ‘What′s a Liverpool kiss?’ asked one unsuspecting drinking companion.
     ‘This,’ said Beer, butting him.

   • 2006, Stephen Hagan, Australia′s Blackest Sporting Moments: The Top 100‎^[3], page 354:

     Who would have thought you′d be reading about the classic Liverpool kiss in a game of squash. Poor old Anthony Hill never expected to read about it let alone be the victim of one.
     Pakistani squash player Mir Zaman Gul knocked Hill unconscious with his cowardly headbutt in a squash tournament.