fatal attraction

1. In a romantic relationship, an attraction to the very qualities in a person that ultimately lead to the relationship falling apart. John had a fatal attraction to the wild, uninhibited life Cynthia led, but she cared more about "living free" than having a functional relationship. I was completely enamored by his self-confidence and charm, but it was just a fatal attraction to a man who turned out to be a complete narcissist. I'm very disorganized, so Philip's orderly life was initially appealing. It was ultimately the start of a fatal attraction to a very controlling man, however.

2. An intense and obsessive infatuation with another person, especially by a spurned lover, that might lead to harassment or violence. A: "I broke up with Chris over two months ago, but he's still constantly checking in on me and even started threatening this new guy I started seeing." B: "Whoa, talk about a fatal attraction." Doesn't Mary's new boyfriend seems completely obsessed with her? I'm worried it's a fatal attraction. A: "Wait, you think the boyfriend murdered this poor girl?" B: "I think homicide cops must see a lot of fatal attractions."

fatal attraction

An affinity for something or someone inherently harmful. This twentieth-century term appears in such locutions as, “Even after the deaths of hundreds of climbers, Mt. Everest continues to exert a fatal attraction for many mountaineers.” It was used as the title of a 1987 motion picture about a happily married man who has a weekend affair with a beautiful woman; she turns out to be psychotic and tries to destroy his and his family’s life.